ATCC vs. M State

Deciding between Alexandria Technical & Community College and Minnesota State Community and Technical College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATCC Alexandria, MN
  • M State Fergus Falls, MN
  • Setting
  • ATCC Rural Fringe
  • M State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATCC 3,281
  • M State 5,645
  • Type
  • ATCC Public 2 Year
  • M State Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Status
  • ATCC Non-profit
  • M State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATCC $6,236
  • M State $5,908
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATCC $6,236
  • M State $5,908
  • Room & Board
  • ATCC $10,024
  • M State $8,820
  • Average Net Price
  • ATCC $13,560
  • M State $11,802
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATCC $5,351
  • M State $5,456
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATCC 69%
  • M State 55%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Admitted
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATCC Open
  • M State Open
  • Enrolled
  • ATCC Open
  • M State Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATCC Unavailable
  • M State Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • ACT Range
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • SAT Range
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATCC Open admission
  • M State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ATCC
  • M State
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATCC 22:1
  • M State 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATCC
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (36%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Precision Production Trades (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • M State
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Construction Trades (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATCC -
  • M State -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATCC $39,100
  • M State $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATCC 66%
  • M State 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATCC $12,000
  • M State $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATCC $124
  • M State $124
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATCC 47%
  • M State 37%
  • % Women
  • ATCC 53%
  • M State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATCC Extremely Low
  • M State Low
  • HBCU
  • ATCC No
  • M State No
  • % White
  • ATCC 90%
  • M State 79%
  • % Asian
  • ATCC 0%
  • M State 2%
  • % Black
  • ATCC 1%
  • M State 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATCC 4%
  • M State 5%
  • % Native American
  • ATCC 0%
  • M State 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATCC 0%
  • M State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATCC 2%
  • M State 3%
  • % International
  • ATCC 0%
  • M State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATCC 1%
  • M State 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATCC 93%
  • M State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATCC 6%
  • M State 26%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATCC No
  • M State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATCC No
  • M State No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATCC No
  • M State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATCC No
  • M State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATCC No
  • M State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Alexandria Technical & Community College in Alexandria, MN with Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is larger than ATCC based on total student enrollment (5,645 students vs. 3,281 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alexandria Technical & Community College is located in Alexandria, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Minnesota State Community and Technical College is in Fergus Falls, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Alexandria Technical & Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alexandria Technical & Community College 22:1; Minnesota State Community and Technical College 18:1.

ATCC vs. M State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATCC or M State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minnesota State Community and Technical College than ATCC ($11,802 vs. $13,560).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State Community and Technical College are 12% lower than at Alexandria Technical & Community College ($8,820 vs. $10,024).
  • Alexandria Technical & Community College is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than M State (about $328 more per year; $6,236.00 vs. $5,908.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at ATCC than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (about $328 more per year; $6,236.00 vs. $5,908.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alexandria Technical & Community College than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (69% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minnesota State Community and Technical College students is 2% larger than aid received by Alexandria Technical & Community College students ($5,456 vs. $5,351).

ATCC vs. M State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATCC or M State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between M State and ATCC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATCC - Open admission; M State - Open admission.

ATCC vs. M State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATCC and M State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Alexandria Technical & Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than M State graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Minnesota State Community and Technical College and ATCC graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Minnesota State Community and Technical College and ATCC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
  • More ATCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former M State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.