Southwest Minnesota State University vs. WSC

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or Wayne State College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or WSC 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. Wayne State College comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University Wayne State College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
Location Marshall, MN Wayne, NE
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,930 4,773
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu wsc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $5,700
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $5,700
Room & Board $9,258 $8,870
Avg Net Price $15,004 $14,271
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $7,838
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 -
Admitted 1,427 -
Acceptance Rate 91.6% Open
Enrolled % 22.8% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025

Academics

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Education (30%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
Graduation Rate 39% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $20,050
Median Loan Payment $224 $207

Diversity

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
% Men 38% 40%
% Women 62% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 82%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Southwest Minnesota State University WSC
% In-State 74% 81%
% Out-of-State 20% 15%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than WSC based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 4,773 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. WSC Cost Comparison

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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 55.1% more expensive to attend than WSC for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $5,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.1% higher at Southwest Minnesota State University than Wayne State College ($8,840.00 vs. $5,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,271 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State College are 4.4% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,870 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State College than Southwest Minnesota State University (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State College students is 6.1% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,838 vs. $7,389)

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

  • Accepted freshman WSC students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. WSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WSC is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (51% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than WSC graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $39,400)
  • Wayne State College students graduate with a $1,628 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($20,050 vs. $21,678)
  • WSC graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($207 vs. $224)
  • More WSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 66%)

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