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UW-Eau Claire University of Wisconsin-Whitewater UWM Wisconsin UWO UW-Platteville Minnesota State University-Mankato UWSP Minnesota University of Wisconsin-River Falls KU UW-Stout| Southwest Minnesota State University | University of Wisconsin La Crosse | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
| Location | Marshall, MN | La Crosse, WI | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,324 | 10,299 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #910 | #566 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | smsu.edu | uwlax.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,840 | $7,974 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,840 | $17,014 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,666 | $7,960 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,839 | $13,125 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,455 | $4,678 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 36% |
Admission |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,630 | 7,312 | ||
| Admitted | 1,813 | 5,356 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 73.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 43% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 22/26 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $49,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,678 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $240 |
Diversity |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 90% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 19% | ||
Campus |
Southwest Minnesota State University | UW-La Crosse | ||
| 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 La Crosse is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (10,299 students vs. 7,324 students)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-La Crosse?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 10.9% more expensive to attend than UW-La Crosse for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,974.00)
- Out of state tuition is 92.5% higher at UW-La Crosse than Southwest Minnesota State University ($17,014.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Southwest Minnesota State University ($13,125 vs. $14,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 34% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,960 vs. $10,666)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (91% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 59.4% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($7,455 vs. $4,678)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-La Crosse? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW-La Crosse or Southwest Minnesota State University .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (1130) is 122 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
- Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
- Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- UW-La Crosse has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)
Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-La Crosse? 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-La Crosse and Southwest Minnesota State University.
- The graduation rate at UW-La Crosse is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (68% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn on average $8,300 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($49,500 vs. $41,200)
- Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $1,572 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-La Crosse graduates. ($21,678 vs. $23,250)
- Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than UW-La Crosse graduates. ($224 vs. $240)
- More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/