Southwest Minnesota State University vs. JC

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

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
Location Marshall, MN Jamestown, ND
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 6,930 1,242
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #790
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu jc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $23,400
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $23,400
Room & Board $9,258 $8,560
Avg Net Price $15,004 $19,950
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $17,022
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 1,017
Admitted 1,427 936
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 92%
Enrolled % 22.8% 27.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.25
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 17/24
SAT Range 935/1102 900/1140
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, 2025

Academics

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
Graduation Rate 39% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $224 $268

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
% Men 38% 52%
% Women 62% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 78%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 5% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University JC
% In-State 74% 30%
% Out-of-State 20% 57%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than JC based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 1,242 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. JC Cost Comparison

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

  • Jamestown College is 164.7% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($23,400.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 164.7% higher at JC than Southwest Minnesota State University ($23,400.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than JC ($15,004 vs. $19,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jamestown College are 8.2% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,560 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jamestown College than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jamestown College students is 130.4% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($17,022 vs. $7,389)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. JC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Jamestown College (1044) is 36 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
  • Incoming JC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman JC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • JC has a higher acceptance rate (92%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (91.6%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. JC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or JC? 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 JC and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at JC is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (43% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Jamestown College earn on average $6,600 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $4,322 lower median federal student loan debt than JC graduates. ($21,678 vs. $26,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than JC graduates. ($224 vs. $268)
  • More JC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 66%)

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