Southwest Minnesota State University — College Profile

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These figures are federal data and may be out of date.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

Tuition$11,516

Books & supplies$1,200

Total published by the school$28,218

Source: www.smsu.edu

Net price by family income · in-state students

$0–30k

$10,559

$30–48k

$11,175

$48–75k

$13,153

$75–110k

$18,283

$110k+

$20,701

Your family's actual price → Southwest Minnesota State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Grants from the school

92% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $4,059

Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

45%

Within 4 yrs

30%

Back for yr 2

74%

Transferred

36%

Pell students: 33.8% · others: 51.8%

8 yrs after starting

43% graduated · 35% transferred · 22% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings

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

Admit rate

62%

Test policy

Test optional

SAT average

1050

Admitted students

Admit rate: men 56.9% · women 66.6%

Yield: 22.2% of admitted students enroll

Wondering if Southwest Minnesota State University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

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%

Where first-years come from

In state (MN)

70.5%

Out of state

21.7%

International

7.5%

Most out-of-state first-years from: SD 18 · IA 15 · WI 13 · NE 10 · AZ 3

Race & ethnicity

White

69%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football

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

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