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Central Washington University Western Washington University Washington State Western Oregon State College Minnesota State University-Mankato UW-Seattle KU Idaho Boise State Winona State University Lewis-Clark State College Portland State University| Southwest Minnesota State University | Eastern Washington University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
| Location | Marshall, MN | Cheney, WA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 7,324 | 10,741 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #910 | #836 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smsu.edu | ewu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,840 | $7,294 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,840 | $24,833 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,666 | $14,880 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,839 | $13,786 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,455 | $8,756 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 89% |
Admission |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,630 | 6,415 | ||
| Admitted | 1,813 | 5,887 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 91.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 22.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 16/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 935/1102 | 880/1090 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 10, 2025 |
Academics |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $45,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,678 | $20,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $215 |
Diversity |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 6% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 6% | ||
Campus |
Southwest Minnesota State University | EWU | ||
| 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
- Eastern Washington University is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (10,741 students vs. 7,324 students)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. EWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or EWU?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 21.2% more expensive to attend than EWU for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,294.00)
- Out of state tuition is 180.9% higher at EWU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($24,833.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Washington University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($13,786 vs. $14,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 39.5% lower than costs at Eastern Washington University ($10,666 vs. $14,880)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than Eastern Washington University (91% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Washington University students is 17.5% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,756 vs. $7,455)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. EWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or EWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between EWU or Southwest Minnesota State University .
- The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 38 points higher than at EWU (970)
- Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at EWU (21)
- Accepted freshman EWU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- EWU has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. EWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or EWU? 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 EWU and Southwest Minnesota State University.
- The graduation rate at EWU is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (46% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Eastern Washington University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $41,200)
- Eastern Washington University students graduate with a $860 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($20,818 vs. $21,678)
- EWU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($215 vs. $224)
- More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EWU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/