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VSU Old Dominion Hampton University Bowie State University ECSU Minnesota State University-Mankato Delaware State University Fayetteville State University KU Morgan State WSSU North Carolina Central University| Southwest Minnesota State University | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
| Location | Marshall, MN | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,324 | 6,045 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #910 | #999 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smsu.edu | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,840 | $5,926 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,840 | $17,428 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,666 | $11,692 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,839 | $12,272 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,455 | $11,153 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 97% |
Admission |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,630 | 10,211 | ||
| Admitted | 1,813 | 8,931 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 87.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 16.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 16/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 935/1102 | 840/1100 | ||
| 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 | May 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,678 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $320 |
Diversity |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 80% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 5% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Southwest Minnesota State University | NSU | ||
| 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 NSU based on total student enrollment (7,324 students vs. 6,045 students)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or NSU?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 49.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $5,926.00)
- Out of state tuition is 97.1% higher at NSU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($17,428.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($12,272 vs. $14,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 9.6% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($10,666 vs. $11,692)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Southwest Minnesota State University (97% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 49.6% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($11,153 vs. $7,455)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Southwest Minnesota State University .
- The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 200 points higher than at NSU (808)
- Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NSU (17)
- Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at NSU (2.9)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or NSU? 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 NSU and Southwest Minnesota State University.
- The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is higher than Norfolk State University (39% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $36,700)
- Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $9,322 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,678 vs. $31,000)
- Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $96 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($224 vs. $320)
- More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/