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Minnesota State University-Mankato KU Coastal Carolina USC Beaufort Winona State University Coker Lander University Winthrop University South Carolina State University UofSC CCF Taylor University| Southwest Minnesota State University | Francis Marion University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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/