Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Western Oregon State College

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University and Western Oregon University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Oregon University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • Western Oregon State College Monmouth, OR
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • Western Oregon State College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • Western Oregon State College 3,722
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • Western Oregon State College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • Western Oregon State College #856
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • Western Oregon State College -
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • Western Oregon State College Non-profit
  • Website
  • Southwest Minnesota State University smsu.edu
  • Western Oregon State College wou.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Western Oregon State College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Western Oregon State College $11,879
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Western Oregon State College $32,534
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • Western Oregon State College $12,528
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • Western Oregon State College $14,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • Western Oregon State College $10,241
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • Western Oregon State College 95%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Calculate
  • Western Oregon State College Calculate
  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • Western Oregon State College 3,060
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • Western Oregon State College 3,002
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • Western Oregon State College 98.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • Western Oregon State College 18.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • Western Oregon State College 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • Western Oregon State College 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • Western Oregon State College 3.36
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • Western Oregon State College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • Western Oregon State College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • Western Oregon State College
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • Western Oregon State College 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • Western Oregon State College 868/1108
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • Western Oregon State College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • Western Oregon State College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • Western Oregon State College 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Western Oregon State College
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • Western Oregon State College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • Western Oregon State College $41,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • Western Oregon State College 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • Western Oregon State College $24,502
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • Western Oregon State College $253
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • Western Oregon State College 34%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • Western Oregon State College 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • Western Oregon State College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • Western Oregon State College No
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • Western Oregon State College 66%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • Western Oregon State College 4%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • Western Oregon State College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • Western Oregon State College 11%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • Western Oregon State College 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • Western Oregon State College 2%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • Western Oregon State College 0%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • Western Oregon State College 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • Western Oregon State College 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • Western Oregon State College 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • Western Oregon State College 14%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than Western Oregon State College based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 3,722 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Western Oregon University is in Monmouth, OR (Town Fringe setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Oregon University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; Western Oregon University 13:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Western Oregon State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or Western Oregon State College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Oregon University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,006 vs. $15,547).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 12% lower than at Western Oregon University ($11,028 vs. $12,528).
  • Western Oregon University is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $1,518 more per year; $11,879.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 214% higher at Western Oregon State College than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $22,173 more per year; $32,534.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Oregon University than at Southwest Minnesota State University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Oregon University students is 18.1% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($10,241 vs. $8,674).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Western Oregon State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or Western Oregon State College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western Oregon State College and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwest Minnesota State University (1020) is 30 points higher than at Western Oregon State College (990).
  • Incoming Western Oregon State College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at Southwest Minnesota State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102; Western Oregon University 868/1108.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23; Western Oregon University 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; Western Oregon State College - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Oregon State College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21).
  • Western Oregon State College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University vs. 18.6% at Western Oregon State College.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Western Oregon State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University and Western Oregon State College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is the same as at Western Oregon University (39% vs. 39%).
  • Graduates from Western Oregon University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $2,824 lower median loan debt than Western Oregon State College graduates ($21,678 vs. $24,502).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Oregon State College graduates ($224 vs. $253).
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Oregon State College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.