Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UW-La Crosse UW-Stout University of Wisconsin-Whitewater UWM University of Wisconsin-River Falls Wisconsin UWO Minnesota State University-Mankato UW-Green Bay University of Minnesota-Duluth Winona State University UWSP| Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Wisconsin Eau Claire | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
| Location | Marshall, MN | Eau Claire, WI | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,930 | 10,104 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #948 | #565 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smsu.edu | uwec.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,840 | $7,361 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,840 | $16,074 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,258 | $9,014 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,004 | $15,000 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,389 | $4,251 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 76% |
Admission |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,558 | 10,403 | ||
| Admitted | 1,427 | 7,971 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.6% | 76.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.8% | 26.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.59 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 21/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 935/1102 | |||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $47,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,678 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $240 |
Diversity |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 38% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 62% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 89% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 64% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-Eau Claire | ||
| 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
- University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (10,104 students vs. 6,930 students)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Eau Claire Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Eau Claire?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 20.1% more expensive to attend than UW-Eau Claire for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,361.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81.8% higher at UW-Eau Claire than Southwest Minnesota State University ($16,074.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire than Southwest Minnesota State University ($15,000 vs. $15,004)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire are 2.7% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,014 vs. $9,258)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (94% vs. 76%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 73.8% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($7,389 vs. $4,251)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Eau Claire Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Eau Claire? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW-Eau Claire or Southwest Minnesota State University .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (1110) is 102 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
- Incoming UW-Eau Claire students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
- Accepted freshman UW-Eau Claire students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than UW-Eau Claire (76.6%)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Eau Claire Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire and Southwest Minnesota State University.
- The graduation rate at UW-Eau Claire is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (65% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn on average $6,700 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($47,900 vs. $41,200)
- Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $1,572 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($21,678 vs. $23,250)
- Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($224 vs. $240)
- More UW-Eau Claire graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/