Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Francis Marion University

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

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
Location Marshall, MN Florence, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Small Suburban
Enrollment 6,930 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $20,768
Room & Board $9,258 $8,230
Avg Net Price $15,004 $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 3,523
Admitted 1,427 2,921
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 82.9%
Enrolled % 22.8% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.89
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 15/22
SAT Range 935/1102 890/1123
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 Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 39% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $224 $320

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
% Men 38% 33%
% Women 62% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 46%
% Black 5% 47%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
% In-State 74% 95%
% Out-of-State 20% 4%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University Francis Marion University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 4,045 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or Francis Marion University?

  • Francis Marion University is 17.5% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 134.9% higher at Francis Marion University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($20,768.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($12,614 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 12.5% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,230 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than Southwest Minnesota State University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 36.8% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($10,108 vs. $7,389)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 81 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or Francis Marion 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 Francis Marion University and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $36,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $9,322 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($21,678 vs. $31,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $96 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($224 vs. $320)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/