EIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

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

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Charleston, IL Marshall, MN
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 8,857 6,930
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $8,840
Room & Board $10,812 $9,258
Avg Net Price $13,380 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 1,558
Admitted 7,873 1,427
Acceptance Rate 68% 91.6%
Enrolled % 11.1% 22.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 900/1120 935/1102
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, 2025

Academics

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 59% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $244 $224

Diversity

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 42% 38%
% Women 58% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 80%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

EIU Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 91% 74%
% Out-of-State 7% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Illinois University is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (8,857 students vs. 6,930 students)

EIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Eastern Illinois University is 9.8% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($9,709.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.3% higher at EIU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($12,136.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($13,380 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 16.8% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($9,258 vs. $10,812)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 59.3% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($11,773 vs. $7,389)

EIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU 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 EIU .

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Illinois University (1010) is 2 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
  • Incoming EIU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than EIU (68%)

EIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU 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 EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (59% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $1,972 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($21,678 vs. $23,650)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($224 vs. $244)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)

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