Southwest Minnesota State University vs. College of Saint Mary

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

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
Location Marshall, MN Omaha, NE
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 6,930 857
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu csm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $22,450
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $22,450
Room & Board $9,258 $8,240
Avg Net Price $15,004 $14,984
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $17,799
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 144
Admitted 1,427 93
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 64.6%
Enrolled % 22.8% 94.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 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

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Health Professions (76%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
% Men 38% 7%
% Women 62% 93%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 74%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 13%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
% In-State 74% 64%
% Out-of-State 20% 34%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University College of Saint Mary
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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 857 students)

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?

  • College of Saint Mary is 154% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($22,450.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 154% higher at College of Saint Mary than Southwest Minnesota State University ($22,450.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Saint Mary than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,984 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 12.4% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,240 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Saint Mary than Southwest Minnesota State University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Saint Mary students is 140.9% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($17,799 vs. $7,389)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or College of Saint Mary? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between College of Saint Mary or Southwest Minnesota State University .

  • 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 (91.6%) than College of Saint Mary (64.6%)

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

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is higher than College of Saint Mary (39% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from College of Saint Mary earn on average $100 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($41,300 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $4,322 lower median federal student loan debt than College of Saint Mary graduates. ($21,678 vs. $26,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans 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/