Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UWSP

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Wisconsin Stevens Point? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or UWSP is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Southwest Minnesota State University vs. University of Wisconsin Stevens Point comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University University of Wisconsin Stevens Point College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
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Overview

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
Location Marshall, MN Stevens Point, WI
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 7,324 8,109
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #910 #872
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu uwsp.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $7,112
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $16,132
Room & Board $10,666 $8,500
Avg Net Price $14,839 $14,347
Avg Grant Aid $7,455 $4,255
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 86%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,630 8,820
Admitted 1,813 7,950
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 90.1%
Enrolled % 20.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.27
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 19/24
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 Sep 1, 2025

Academics

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
Graduation Rate 39% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $24,360
Median Loan Payment $224 $251

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
% Men 2% 2%
% Women 4% 6%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 87%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
% In-State 74% 88%
% Out-of-State 20% 12%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University UWSP
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 Stevens Point is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (8,109 students vs. 7,324 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UWSP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or UWSP?

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 24.3% more expensive to attend than UWSP for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.5% higher at UWSP than Southwest Minnesota State University ($16,132.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,347 vs. $14,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point are 25.5% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,500 vs. $10,666)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (91% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 75.2% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Stevens Point ($7,455 vs. $4,255)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UWSP Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or UWSP? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWSP or Southwest Minnesota State University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (1050) is 42 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
  • Incoming UWSP students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman UWSP students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • UWSP has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UWSP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or UWSP? 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 UWSP and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at UWSP is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (61% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn on average $500 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $2,682 lower median federal student loan debt than UWSP graduates. ($21,678 vs. $24,360)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than UWSP graduates. ($224 vs. $251)
  • More UWSP 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/