Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Valley City State University

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or Valley City State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or Valley City State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Valley City State University comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Location Marshall, MN Valley City, ND
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 6,930 1,658
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #689
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu vcsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $6,619
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $11,583
Room & Board $9,258 $6,957
Avg Net Price $15,004 $12,164
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $7,525
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 429
Admitted 1,427 358
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 83.4%
Enrolled % 22.8% 57.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102 1030/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2024

Academics

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Education (54%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Health Professions (4%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Graduation Rate 39% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $21,330
Median Loan Payment $224 $220

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
% Men 38% 41%
% Women 62% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 81%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
% In-State 74% 69%
% Out-of-State 20% 30%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University Valley City State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Valley City State University based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 1,658 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Valley City State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or Valley City State University?

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 33.6% more expensive to attend than Valley City State University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $6,619.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31% higher at Valley City State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($11,583.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valley City State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($12,164 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valley City State University are 33.1% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($6,957 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valley City State University than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valley City State University students is 1.8% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,525 vs. $7,389)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Valley City State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or Valley City State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Valley City State University or Southwest Minnesota State University .

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 47 points higher than at Valley City State University (961)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Valley City State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Valley City State University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Valley City State University (83.4%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Valley City State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or Valley City State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Valley City State University and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at Valley City State University is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Valley City State University earn on average $1,000 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $41,200)
  • Valley City State University students graduate with a $348 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($21,330 vs. $21,678)
  • Valley City State University graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($220 vs. $224)
  • More Valley City State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/