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Moorhead, MN · Marshall, MN
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Southwest Minnesota State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,997/yr | $15,291/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,129/yr | $10,559/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,000 | $20,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,547/yr | $11,175/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,907/yr | $13,153/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,644/yr | $18,283/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $22,420/yr | $20,701/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $212/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,994/yr | $11,028/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,994/yr | $11,028/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,894/yr | $3,652/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,197/yr | $24,757/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,428/yr | $10,361/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $10,428/yr | $10,361/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 28% | 12% |
| Students taking federal loans | 48% | 15% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 59% | 62% |
| SAT average | 1090 | 1050 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–25 | 16–23 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–24 · Math 17–25 | English 15–22 · Math 16–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,654 | 2,630 |
| Students accepted | 2,449 | 1,813 |
| Students who enrolled | 606 | 368 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 25% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 64% | 51% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 57% | 45% |
| Freshmen who come back | 75% | 74% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $50,527/yr | $51,342/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $35,574–$69,031 | $35,692–$69,380 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 58% | 44% |
| White students graduating | 60% | 54% |
| Black students graduating | 7.7% | 24% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 29% | 25% |
| Asian students graduating | 75% | 11% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,873/yr | $43,282/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 76% | 71% |
| Graduate on time | 40% | 30% |
| Pell students who graduate | 50% | 35% |
| First-gen students who finish | 49% | 42% |
| Low-income students who finish | 43% | 39% |
| Students who transfer out | 24% | 37% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $47,860/yr | $48,039/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Education 13% | Education 22% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 12% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 20% of degrees | Education — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 13% of degrees | Health Professions — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 6% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 5% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $93,938/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,933/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 9.6% | 5% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,072 | 2,315 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,011 | 479 |
| Average professor pay | $10,729/mo | $10,672/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 52% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $64,366 | $51,572 |
| Setting | Suburb (midsize) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Moorhead, MN | Marshall, MN |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1919 | 1963 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Men | 37% | 33% |
| Women | 63% | 67% |
| White students | 76% | 69% |
| Black students | 5.5% | 8.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.5% | 8.6% |
| Asian students | 1.6% | 2.7% |
| Two or more races | 4% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.5% | 2.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 20% | 27% |
| Part-time students | 15% | 29% |
| Students age 25+ | 18% | 9.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,492/yr | $7,153/yr |
| Endowment | $38.9M | $20.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,482 | 1,049 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,830/yr | $6,248/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,764/yr | $4,418/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 348 | 375 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.7M | $1.4M |
| Athletics budget | $7.7M | $7.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.8M | $7.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $48,931 | $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.