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Minnesota State University-Mankato University of Minnesota-Duluth Winona State University MSU Moorhead University of St Thomas South Dakota State University NDSU KU Minnesota Metropolitan State University University of Minnesota-Rochester Southeast Missouri State University| Saint Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Location | Saint Cloud, MN | Marshall, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 10,420 | 6,930 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #710 | #948 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | stcloudstate.edu | smsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,811 | $8,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,695 | $8,840 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,950 | $9,258 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,065 | $15,004 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,042 | $7,389 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 94% |
Admission |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,810 | 1,558 | ||
| Admitted | 4,583 | 1,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.3% | 91.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.8% | 22.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 1027/1200 | 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 15, 2025 | Aug 18, 2025 |
Academics |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,700 | $41,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $21,678 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $224 |
Diversity |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 20% | ||
Campus |
St. Cloud State University | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 6,930 students)
St. Cloud State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or Southwest Minnesota State University?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 0.3% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- Out of state tuition is 111.5% higher at St. Cloud State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($18,695.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,065 vs. $15,004)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 7.5% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($9,258 vs. $9,950)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Southwest Minnesota State University (98% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 22.3% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($7,389 vs. $6,042)
St. Cloud State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University .
- The average SAT score at Saint Cloud State University (1030) is 22 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
- Incoming St. Cloud State University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
- Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (91.6%)
St. Cloud State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University.
- The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (48% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $5,500 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $41,200)
- Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $822 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($21,678 vs. $22,500)
- Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($224 vs. $232)
- More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/