Allen College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

Should I go to Allen College or Southwest Minnesota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Allen College or Southwest Minnesota 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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Allen College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University comparison
Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Waterloo, IA Marshall, MN
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 497 6,930
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website allencollege.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $19,236 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $19,236 $8,840
Room & Board $7,280 $9,258
Avg Net Price $31,509 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $1,625 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,558
Admitted - 1,427
Acceptance Rate 91.6%
Enrolled % 22.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.21
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Aug 18, 2025

Academics

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (100%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 50% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,100 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,750 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $173 $224

Diversity

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 11% 38%
% Women 89% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 80%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

 Allen College Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 100% 74%
% Out-of-State 0% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Allen College based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 497 students)

Allen College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allen College or Southwest Minnesota State University?

  • Allen College is 117.6% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($19,236.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 117.6% higher at Allen College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($19,236.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than Allen College ($15,004 vs. $31,509)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 27.2% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,280 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Allen College than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 354.7% larger than aid received Allen College ($7,389 vs. $1,625)

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

Allen College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Allen College or Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and Allen College.

  • The graduation rate at Allen College is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (50% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Allen College earn on average $7,900 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $41,200)
  • Allen College students graduate with a $4,928 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($16,750 vs. $21,678)
  • Allen College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($173 vs. $224)
  • More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 66%)

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