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Southwest Minnesota State University

Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Town · 2,315 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$15,291
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
45%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
54% typical
$51,342
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$55,177 typical
62%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
82% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in Marshall is best known for providing an affordable, career-focused education deeply tied to the surrounding region's agricultural and corporate sectors. The university boasts strong programs in Education, Agribusiness Management, and Hospitality, and it is particularly distinguished for pioneering the nation's first bachelor’s degree in Culinology, which uniquely blends culinary arts with food science. Students experience a welcoming, close-knit campus culture featuring NCAA Division II Mustang athletics, active student organizations, and small class sizes that foster direct faculty mentorship. A standout characteristic of SMSU is its modern, fully accessible physical design, featuring an interconnected network of skyways and tunnels that allow students to navigate all main academic buildings without stepping outside during harsh Minnesota winters.

Wikipedia:Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) is a public university in Marshall, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The university has an enrollment of approximately 8,700 students and employs 148 faculty members. It is divided into two major colleges, the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences and the College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies.

Location
Marshall, MN, 56258-5468 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
MSP · Minneapolis
128 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$10,361$10,361
Housing & food (on campus)$11,028$11,028
Books & supplies$1,200$1,200
Cost of attendance$28,218$24,757 est.
Average net price$15,291Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$10,361
Housing & food (on campus)$11,028
Books & supplies$1,200
Cost of attendance$24,757 est.
In-state: $28,218
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $15,291
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.smsu.edu
How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27
Southwest Minnesota State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$11,516
Books & supplies$1,200
Total published by the school$28,218
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$10,559
$30–48k
$11,175
$48–75k
$13,153
$75–110k
$18,283
$110k+
$20,701
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
45%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
30%
Back for yr 2
74%
Transferred
36%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
43% graduated · 35% transferred · 22% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$43,282
10 yrs after entry$51,342
Debt
Median at graduation$20,500
Monthly payment$217
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$25k
90th percentile$31,500
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
62%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1050

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Essay prompts

If Southwest Minnesota State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 33%Women 67%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
12%
First-gen
27%
Family income
$51,571
Independent
25%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
29%
Race & ethnicity
White
69%
Hispanic
9%
Black
9%
Asian
3%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
5%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$43,282
After 10 yrs
$51,342
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing70
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods42
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness38
Business Administration, Management and Operations38
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas24
Special Education and Teaching21
Accounting and Related Services16
Education, General15
Social Work15
Psychology, General14
Criminal Justice and Corrections14
Biology, General13
Fine and Studio Arts11
Finance and Financial Management Services11
Marketing11
Computer Science9
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$21M
Full-time faculty
52%
Faculty salary
$10,672/mo
Teaching spend
$7,153
per student
Federal loans
15%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (larger programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

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