UIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

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

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Fayette, IA Marshall, MN
Setting Remote Rural Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,072 6,930
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #737 #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiu.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $32,589 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $32,589 $8,840
Room & Board $9,644 $9,258
Avg Net Price $24,563 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $25,788 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,405 1,558
Admitted 762 1,427
Acceptance Rate 54.2% 91.6%
Enrolled % 28.3% 22.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 17/23
SAT Range 890/1050 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025

Academics

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (40%)
  • Human Services (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 45% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,100 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $248 $224

Diversity

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 41% 38%
% Women 59% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 80%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 UIU Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 49% 74%
% Out-of-State 48% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than UIU based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 3,072 students)

UIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Upper Iowa University is 268.7% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($32,589.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 268.7% higher at UIU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($32,589.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than UIU ($15,004 vs. $24,563)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 4.2% lower than costs at Upper Iowa University ($9,258 vs. $9,644)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Upper Iowa University than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 249% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($25,788 vs. $7,389)

UIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 78 points higher than at UIU (930)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at UIU (20)
  • Accepted freshman UIU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than UIU (54.2%)

UIU vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UIU is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (45% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Upper Iowa University earn on average $900 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($42,100 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $2,322 lower median federal student loan debt than UIU graduates. ($21,678 vs. $24,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than UIU graduates. ($224 vs. $248)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 50%)

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