Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

Deciding between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 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.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • Setting
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • Type
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • Status
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota smumn.edu
  • Southwest Minnesota State University smsu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • Admitted
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • % Women
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • HBCU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • % White
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • % Black
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • % International
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • Learn More
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is located in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting); Southwest Minnesota State University is in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1; Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($15,547 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 1.5% lower than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($11,028 vs. $11,200).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 335.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $34,719 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 335.1% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $34,719 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 307.5% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($35,348 vs. $8,674).

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

  • 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: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free; Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027; Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 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).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $1,572 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($21,678 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($224 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)

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.