Concordia University-Saint Paul vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

Deciding between Concordia University Saint Paul and Southwest Minnesota State University? 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
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • Setting
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Large City
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 6,003
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • Type
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Private 4 Year
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • Status
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Non-profit
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul csp.edu
  • Southwest Minnesota State University smsu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $25,600
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $25,600
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Room & Board
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $13,932
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • Average Net Price
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $18,028
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $19,494
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 99%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Calculate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 3,540
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • Admitted
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 2,792
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 78.9% Open
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 16.6% Open
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 3.14
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul B
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Unavailable
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Open admission
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Aug 1, 2027
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 16:1
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul
    • Business (51%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 48%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $57,400
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 61%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $22,405
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul $231
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 37%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • % Women
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 63%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Medium
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • HBCU
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul No
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • % White
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 65%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • % Asian
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 6%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • % Black
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 13%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 4%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • % Native American
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 1%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 0%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 4%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • % International
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 5%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 3%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 86%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul 13%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul No
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Learn More
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul Details
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Concordia University Saint Paul in Saint Paul, MN with Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than Concordia University-Saint Paul based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 6,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Concordia University Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting); Southwest Minnesota State University is in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Concordia University Saint Paul is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Concordia University Saint Paul 16:1; Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1.

Concordia University-Saint Paul vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Concordia University-Saint Paul or Southwest Minnesota State University? 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 Southwest Minnesota State University than Concordia University-Saint Paul ($15,547 vs. $18,028).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 20.8% lower than at Concordia University Saint Paul ($11,028 vs. $13,932).
  • Concordia University Saint Paul is 147.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $15,239 more per year; $25,600.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 147.1% higher at Concordia University-Saint Paul than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $15,239 more per year; $25,600.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Concordia University Saint Paul than at Southwest Minnesota State University (99% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Saint Paul students is 124.7% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($19,494 vs. $8,674).

Concordia University-Saint Paul vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Concordia University-Saint Paul or Southwest Minnesota State University? 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and Concordia University-Saint Paul.

  • Concordia University Saint Paul reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSouthwest Minnesota State University 935/1102.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSouthwest Minnesota State University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Concordia University-Saint Paul - Open admission; Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Concordia University-Saint Paul Aug 1, 2027; Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at Concordia University-Saint Paul (3.14).
  • Concordia University-Saint Paul has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Concordia University-Saint Paul vs. 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Concordia University-Saint Paul vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Concordia University-Saint Paul and Southwest Minnesota State University? 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).

  • Concordia University Saint Paul's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $727 lower median loan debt than Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates ($21,678 vs. $22,405).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates ($224 vs. $231).
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Concordia University-Saint Paul students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)

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.