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SHSU PVAMU TSU UTSA UH Lamar University HBU Minnesota State University-Mankato GSU- Grambling University of Houston-Victoria Texas State KU| Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston Downtown | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Location | Marshall, MN | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,930 | 14,208 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #948 | #951 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smsu.edu | uhd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,840 | $6,252 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,840 | $16,068 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,258 | $9,882 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,004 | $14,911 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,389 | $7,849 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 85% |
Admission |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,558 | 6,131 | ||
| Admitted | 1,427 | 5,421 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.6% | 88.4%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.8% | 25.3%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 16/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 935/1102 | 960/1100 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jun 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 15% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 41% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,678 | $18,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $193 |
Diversity |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 38% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 62% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 17% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 23% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 43% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| % In-State | 74% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 1% | ||
Campus |
Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Houston Downtown is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (14,208 students vs. 6,930 students)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Houston-Downtown?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 41.4% more expensive to attend than University of Houston-Downtown for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $6,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81.8% higher at University of Houston-Downtown than Southwest Minnesota State University ($16,068.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston Downtown than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,911 vs. $15,004)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 6.7% lower than costs at University of Houston Downtown ($9,258 vs. $9,882)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Houston Downtown (94% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Downtown students is 6.2% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,849 vs. $7,389)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Houston-Downtown? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Houston-Downtown or Southwest Minnesota State University .
- The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 114 points higher than at University of Houston-Downtown (894)
- Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (18)
- Accepted freshman University of Houston-Downtown students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than University of Houston-Downtown (88.4%)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Houston-Downtown? 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 University of Houston-Downtown and Southwest Minnesota State University.
- The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is higher than University of Houston Downtown (39% vs. 15%)
- Graduates from University of Houston Downtown earn on average $6,200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $41,200)
- University of Houston Downtown students graduate with a $2,928 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $21,678)
- University of Houston-Downtown graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($193 vs. $224)
- More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Houston-Downtown students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 41%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/