Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #197 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 36 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,554
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $19,500
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Southwest Minnesota State University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 62.2% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 1,522 of 1,672 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: ACT 16–23. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 2,315
Near the national median
National median 1,603
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Is this campus your type?
Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Southwest Minnesota State University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Southwest Minnesota State University admitted 62.2% of 1,672 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants1,672
62.2% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted1,522
26.3% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)400
Middle 50% test scores
- ACT Composite
- 16–23
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Southwest Minnesota State University- ACT, middle 50%
- 16–23
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$16,501
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- Tuition & fees
- $10,918
- Average net price
- $16,501
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 14.1%
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Plan your costs for Southwest Minnesota State University
- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
48.5%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
73.7%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$52,551
Former students who received federal aid
Where Southwest Minnesota State University ranks
- #197Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise scienceof 459 ranked
- #270Best colleges for nursingof 686 ranked
- #380Best colleges for educationof 521 ranked
Programs at Southwest Minnesota State University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Southwest Minnesota State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Nursing
Ranked #270 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 57 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $83,735
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $12,500
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Education
Ranked #380 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 40 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $43,904
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $18,233
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Business
Ranked #616 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 29 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $55,559
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $14,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
2,315
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's university
A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.
Colleges like Southwest Minnesota State University
Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN
Bemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN- Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MN
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN, United States
- Public
- Master's university
Remote town
In a smaller urban cluster away from a large metro area.
- City
- Suburb
- Town (this campus)
- Rural
Nearest major cityMinneapolis, MN · about 128 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- smsu.edu
Colleges nearby
Minnesota West Community and Technical College26.3 miGranite Falls
Ridgewater College58.1 miWillmar
Martin Luther College64.4 miNew Ulm- University of Minnesota-Morris78.8 miMorris
- South Central College86.8 miNorth Mankato
Gustavus Adolphus College88.7 miSaint Peter
Colleges nearby
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College26 mi from Southwest Minnesota State University
- Ridgewater College58 mi from Southwest Minnesota State University
- Martin Luther College64 mi from Southwest Minnesota State University
- University of Minnesota-Morris79 mi from Southwest Minnesota State University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Southwest Minnesota State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $16,501 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division II · Competitive sports with partial scholarships and smaller programs.
- D-INCAA Division I
- D-IINCAA Division II (this college)
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead, side by side.
Compare with Minnesota State University MoorheadFrequently asked questions
What is the Southwest Minnesota State University acceptance rate for 2026?
Southwest Minnesota State University admitted 62.2% of 1,672 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Southwest Minnesota State University tuition?
Tuition at Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,918 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $16,501 a year.
What is the average net price at Southwest Minnesota State University?
The average net price at Southwest Minnesota State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $16,501 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University?
48.5% of first-time, full-time students at Southwest Minnesota State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Southwest Minnesota State University?
The closest matches are Minnesota State University Moorhead, Bemidji State University, and Saint Cloud State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
