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Compare Bemidji State University vs Southwest Minnesota State University

Bemidji, MN · Marshall, MN

Bemidji State UniversitySouthwest Minnesota State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$15,261/yr$15,291/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$10,073/yr$10,559/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$19,750$20,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$10,207/yr$11,175/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$12,201/yr$13,153/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$15,857/yr$18,283/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$19,940/yr$20,701/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$209/mo$217/mo
Room & board (on campus)$10,462/yr$11,028/yr
Room & board (off campus)$10,462/yr$11,028/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$890/yr$1,200/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,200/yr$3,652/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$22,744/yr$24,757/yr
Tuition (in-state)$10,237/yr$10,361/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$10,237/yr$10,361/yr
Students with Pell Grants28%12%
Students taking federal loans42%15%
Getting in
Students who get accepted56%62%
SAT average10901050
ACT range (middle 50%)18–2416–23
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 15–22 · Math 17–24English 15–22 · Math 16–24
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received2,8602,630
Students accepted2,0211,813
Students who enrolled480368
Accepted students who enroll24%20%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores0%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores55%51%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Class rankRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
College-prep programNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate48%45%
Freshmen who come back73%74%
Typical earnings 10 years in$53,755/yr$51,342/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$37,138–$74,504$35,692–$69,380
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)57%44%
White students graduating50%54%
Black students graduating26%24%
Hispanic students graduating17%25%
Asian students graduating33%11%
Typical earnings 6 years in$47,469/yr$43,282/yr
Earn more than a HS grad73%71%
Graduate on time33%30%
Pell students who graduate38%35%
First-gen students who finish41%42%
Low-income students who finish38%39%
Students who transfer out31%37%
Typical earnings 8 years in$52,433/yr$48,039/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 22% · Health Professions 16% · Psychology 10%Education 22% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 12%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 22% of degreesEducation — 22% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 16% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 10% of degreesHealth Professions — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programEducation — 9% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programEngineering Technologies — 6% of degreesPublic Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General — $85,830/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,933/yr
Degrees in STEM13%5%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,1392,315
Students per professor18 : 116 : 1
Graduate students321479
Average professor pay$10,427/mo$10,672/mo
Full-time professors65%52%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$57,931$51,572
SettingTown (remote)Town (remote)
LocationBemidji, MNMarshall, MN
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded19191963
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1.6%4.6%
Men39%33%
Women61%67%
White students77%69%
Black students3.5%8.6%
Hispanic or Latino students4.4%8.6%
Asian students1.7%2.7%
Two or more races5.6%3.9%
Other / not reported5.8%2.2%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students27%27%
Part-time students27%29%
Students age 25+28%9.1%
Spent on teaching per student$9,867/yr$7,153/yr
Endowment$39.8M$20.9M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing9351,049
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$6,085/yr$6,248/yr
Meal plan charge$3,956/yr$4,418/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division II with footballNCAA Division II with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1312
Student athletes400375
Athletic scholarships$2.5M$1.4M
Athletics budget$10.8M$7.2M
Athletics revenue$10.8M$7.2M
Recruiting spend$167,252$44,376

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.