Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NMSU

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

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
Location Marshall, MN Las Cruces, NM
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 7,324 14,779
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #910 #731
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $6,283
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $23,407
Room & Board $10,666 $12,026
Avg Net Price $14,839 $8,353
Avg Grant Aid $7,455 $15,073
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 97%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,630 15,201
Admitted 1,813 11,511
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 75.7%
Enrolled % 20.3% 20.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.55
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 17/24
SAT Range 935/1102 885/1110
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, 2026

Academics

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
Graduation Rate 39% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $17,118
Median Loan Payment $224 $176

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
% Men 2% 7%
% Women 4% 11%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 30%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 55%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
% In-State 74% 79%
% Out-of-State 20% 19%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University NMSU
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

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 7,324 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NMSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 40.7% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 164.8% higher at NMSU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($23,407.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,353 vs. $14,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 12.8% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($10,666 vs. $12,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Southwest Minnesota State University (97% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 102.2% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($15,073 vs. $7,455)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 25 points higher than at NMSU (983)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NMSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • NMSU has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (46% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,560 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($17,118 vs. $21,678)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($176 vs. $224)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 44%)

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