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Southwest Minnesota State University
Most applicants get into Southwest Minnesota State University — 62.2% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Southwest Minnesota State University anchors the college town of Marshall, MN, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $83,735 four years out. Faculty pay averages $128,064 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 2,315 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 73.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 17 and 23 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Southwest Minnesota State University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Southwest Minnesota State University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Southwest Minnesota State University's submitters' middle half scored 17–23 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 17 | 19 | 23 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Southwest Minnesota State University received 2,630 applications and admitted 1,813 (68.9%), with 368 enrolling.
How Southwest Minnesota State University compares
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Minnesota median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 62.2% | 85.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,361 | $22,520 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,342 | $58,351 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Southwest Minnesota State University's median earnings are $51,342 — below the Minnesota benchmark of $58,351. Weigh that against the $10,361 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Southwest Minnesota State University prices by residency: $10,361 in-state versus $10,361 out-of-state — a $0 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Southwest Minnesota State University enrolls 2,315 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Southwest Minnesota State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
45.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 55% don't — ask a Southwest Minnesota State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Southwest Minnesota State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,735 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,654 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $59,824 |
| Marketing | $58,574 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,559 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,554 |
| Psychology, General | $47,249 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,219 |
| Social Work | $45,467 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,904 |
Median earnings for these 10 Southwest Minnesota State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,342 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 32 additional Southwest Minnesota State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Southwest Minnesota State University?
The middle 50% of Southwest Minnesota State University's submitters earned ACT composites of 17–23; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Southwest Minnesota State University's acceptance rate?
68.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,813 admitted from 2,630 applicants.
How much does Southwest Minnesota State University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,361; out-of-state students pay $10,361. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Southwest Minnesota State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,342 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Minnesota
- Winona State University — 75.5% admitted
- University of Minnesota-Morris — 74.9% admitted
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — 79.8% admitted
- Gustavus Adolphus College — 61% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.