Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Superior

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Wisconsin Superior? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Superior 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 Superior comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University University of Wisconsin Superior College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin Superior
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Overview

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
Location Marshall, MN Superior, WI
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 6,930 2,710
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #885
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu uwsuper.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $14,108
Room & Board $9,258 $7,013
Avg Net Price $15,004 $12,908
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $3,691
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 2,319
Admitted 1,427 2,217
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 95.6%
Enrolled % 22.8% 14.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.32
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 18/24
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, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
Graduation Rate 39% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $37,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $224 $237

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
% Men 38% 33%
% Women 62% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 81%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
% In-State 74% 45%
% Out-of-State 20% 39%

Campus

Southwest Minnesota State University UW-Superior
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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than UW-Superior based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 2,710 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Superior Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Superior?

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 35.3% more expensive to attend than UW-Superior for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.6% higher at UW-Superior than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,108.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Superior than Southwest Minnesota State University ($12,908 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Superior are 32% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,013 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Superior than Southwest Minnesota State University (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 100.2% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Superior ($7,389 vs. $3,691)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Superior Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 18 points higher than at UW-Superior (990)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at UW-Superior (21)
  • Accepted freshman UW-Superior students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • UW-Superior has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (91.6%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. UW-Superior Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or UW-Superior? 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-Superior and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Superior is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (44% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $3,500 more per year than UW-Superior graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $37,700)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $1,322 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-Superior graduates. ($21,678 vs. $23,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than UW-Superior graduates. ($224 vs. $237)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Superior students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/