Chadron State vs Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU)

Chadron State College and Southwest Minnesota State University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Chadron State, nestled in the scenic Nebraska panhandle, boasts a close-knit community and a strong focus on undergraduate education. Southwest Minnesota State, located in the vibrant city of Marshall, prides itself on its diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs. While both universities share a commitment to student success, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Chadron State College logo

Chadron State College

Southwest Minnesota State University logo

Southwest Minnesota State University

Overview

Location Chadron, Nebraska Marshall, Minnesota
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 68.0% 63.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 91.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $30
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 1,672
Total number of admissions given out 1,522
Admitted students who chose to enroll 421
Yield rate 27.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Not required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,992

Out of state: $24,022
$22,718
Average net price $15,147 $14,061
Tuition
In state: $5,720

Out of state: $5,750
$8,230
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,090

Meal plan: $4,450
Room/dormitory: $5,426

Meal plan: $3,790
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $6,963
97.0%
Average amount $7,101
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $4,623
67.0%
Average amount $5,124
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $9,349
17.0%
Average amount $8,087

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,800
Men 39.9% Women 60.1%
6,556
Men 38.6% Women 61.4%
Graduate students 450
Men 34.9% Women 65.1%
430
Men 33.3% Women 66.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 47.0% N/A
International students 1.3% 2.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,197 1,034
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Nebraska Colorado South Dakota Wyoming Florida N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Agriculture
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 38.7% 47.8%
Dropout rate 21.8% 20.7%
Transferred out 37.8% 29.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,478
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $77,045
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,195
  • Year 2: $42,235
  • Year 3: $49,361
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,481
  • Year 2: $41,844
  • Year 3: $43,873
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,127
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: $43,003
Plant Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,245
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $40,159
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,603
  • Year 2: $37,699
  • Year 3: $38,920
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,383
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $36,964
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,098
  • Year 2: $30,409
  • Year 3: $35,318
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,141
  • Year 3: $30,855
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,618
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,193
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $63,067
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,872
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $57,477
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,470
  • Year 2: $51,482
  • Year 3: $52,674
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,562
  • Year 2: $49,729
  • Year 3: $50,544
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,831
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $48,120
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,735
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $46,976
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,644
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $46,844
Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $46,566
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,969
  • Year 2: $34,526
  • Year 3: $42,447
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $42,232

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