Southwest Minnesota State University vs. College of Saint Mary

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University and College of Saint Mary? 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
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • College of Saint Mary Omaha, NE
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • College of Saint Mary Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • College of Saint Mary 786
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • College of Saint Mary Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • College of Saint Mary
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • College of Saint Mary Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • College of Saint Mary Non-profit
  • Website
  • Southwest Minnesota State University smsu.edu
  • College of Saint Mary csm.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • College of Saint Mary

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • College of Saint Mary $24,510
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • College of Saint Mary $24,510
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • College of Saint Mary $9,084
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • College of Saint Mary $17,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • College of Saint Mary $18,847
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • College of Saint Mary 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Calculate
  • College of Saint Mary Calculate
  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • College of Saint Mary 533
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • College of Saint Mary 238
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • College of Saint Mary 44.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • College of Saint Mary 35.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • College of Saint Mary
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • College of Saint Mary
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • College of Saint Mary 3.4
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • College of Saint Mary B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • College of Saint Mary Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • College of Saint Mary Low
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • College of Saint Mary
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • College of Saint Mary
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • College of Saint Mary Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • College of Saint Mary

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • College of Saint Mary 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • College of Saint Mary
    • Health Professions (76%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Education (4%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
    • Psychology (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • College of Saint Mary 30%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • College of Saint Mary $41,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • College of Saint Mary 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • College of Saint Mary $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • College of Saint Mary $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • College of Saint Mary 13%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • College of Saint Mary 87%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • College of Saint Mary Low
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • College of Saint Mary No
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • College of Saint Mary 74%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • College of Saint Mary 2%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • College of Saint Mary 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • College of Saint Mary 13%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • College of Saint Mary 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • College of Saint Mary 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • College of Saint Mary 2%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • College of Saint Mary 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • College of Saint Mary 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • College of Saint Mary 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • College of Saint Mary 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); College of Saint Mary is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Saint Mary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; College of Saint Mary 8:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary ($15,547 vs. $17,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 17.6% lower than at Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,084 vs. $11,028).
  • College of Saint Mary is 136.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $14,149 more per year; $24,510.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 136.6% higher at College of Saint Mary than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $14,149 more per year; $24,510.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Saint Mary than at Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Saint Mary students is 117.3% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($18,847 vs. $8,674).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; College of Saint Mary - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman College of Saint Mary students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (62.2%) than College of Saint Mary (44.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University vs. 35.3% at College of Saint Mary.

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

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University and College of Saint Mary? 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).

  • Southwest Minnesota State University's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than College of Saint Mary's (30%).
  • Graduates from College of Saint Mary earn a median of about $100 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,300 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $4,322 lower median loan debt than College of Saint Mary graduates ($21,678 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Saint Mary graduates ($224 vs. $268).
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.