Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Sioux Falls

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • University of Sioux Falls Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,450
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • University of Sioux Falls Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • University of Sioux Falls American Baptist
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • University of Sioux Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Admission Chances
  • Southwest Minnesota State University My Chances
  • University of Sioux Falls My Chances

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • University of Sioux Falls $9,270
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,385
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • University of Sioux Falls $12,782
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • University of Sioux Falls 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southwest Minnesota State University My Chances
  • University of Sioux Falls My Chances
  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • University of Sioux Falls 2,291
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 82.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • University of Sioux Falls 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • University of Sioux Falls A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • University of Sioux Falls Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • University of Sioux Falls Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • University of Sioux Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • University of Sioux Falls 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • University of Sioux Falls
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • University of Sioux Falls $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • University of Sioux Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • University of Sioux Falls $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • University of Sioux Falls $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • University of Sioux Falls 41%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • University of Sioux Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • University of Sioux Falls No
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • University of Sioux Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • University of Sioux Falls 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • University of Sioux Falls 3%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • University of Sioux Falls 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • University of Sioux Falls 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than University of Sioux Falls based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 1,450 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); University of Sioux Falls is in Sioux Falls, SD (Midsize City setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Sioux Falls is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; University of Sioux Falls 18:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Sioux Falls? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Sioux Falls ($15,547 vs. $21,385).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Sioux Falls are 15.9% lower than at Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,270 vs. $11,028).
  • University of Sioux Falls is 109.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $11,389 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.9% higher at University of Sioux Falls than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $11,389 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Sioux Falls than at Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Sioux Falls students is 47.4% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($12,782 vs. $8,674).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Sioux Falls? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; University of Sioux Falls - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman University of Sioux Falls students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21).
  • University of Sioux Falls has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University vs. 15.3% at University of Sioux Falls.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Sioux Falls's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from University of Sioux Falls earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $1,072 lower median loan debt than University of Sioux Falls graduates ($21,678 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Sioux Falls graduates ($224 vs. $235).
  • More University of Sioux Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.