Northwest vs. MSU

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

Northwest MSU
Location Maryville, MO Minot, ND
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 8,505 2,777
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #914 #726
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwmissouri.edu minotstateu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwest MSU
Tuition (In State) $6,015 $7,168
Tuition (Out of State) $12,082 $7,168
Room & Board $10,428 $7,180
Avg Net Price $14,197 $12,360
Avg Grant Aid $8,387 $5,542
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 91%

Admission

Northwest MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,877 498
Admitted 5,884 464
Acceptance Rate 85.6% 93.2%
Enrolled % 18.6% 81.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 17/22
SAT Range 938/1158 992/1178
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Northwest MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Agriculture (6%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

Northwest MSU
Graduation Rate 49% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $18,725
Median Loan Payment $258 $193

Diversity

Northwest MSU
% Men 38% 35%
% Women 62% 65%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 67%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 6% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Northwest MSU
% In-State 65% 72%
% Out-of-State 33% 21%

Campus

Northwest MSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northwest Missouri State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 2,777 students)

Northwest vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest or MSU?

  • Minot State University is 19.2% more expensive to attend than Northwest for in-state tuition ($7,168.00 vs. $6,015.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.6% higher at Northwest than Minot State University ($12,082.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minot State University than Northwest ($12,360 vs. $14,197)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minot State University are 45.2% lower than costs at Northwest Missouri State University ($7,180 vs. $10,428)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than Minot State University (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students is 51.3% larger than aid received Minot State University ($8,387 vs. $5,542)

Northwest vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwest or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or Northwest .

  • The average SAT score at Northwest Missouri State University (1047) is 48 points higher than at MSU (999)
  • Incoming Northwest students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at MSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at MSU (3.42)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Northwest (85.6%)

Northwest vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwest or MSU? 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 MSU and Northwest.

  • The graduation rate at Northwest is higher than Minot State University (49% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minot State University earn on average $4,000 more per year than Northwest graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $41,200)
  • Minot State University students graduate with a $6,275 lower median federal student loan debt than Northwest graduates. ($18,725 vs. $25,000)
  • MSU graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than Northwest graduates. ($193 vs. $258)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwest students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

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