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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Fact Book

About SMSU

Southwest Minnesota State University is a four-year public university offering a high-quality education in the liberal arts and professions to prepare students for a life that is successful both personally and professionally.

Founded in 1963 and opened in 1967, SMSU has grown into a university of choice with high national rankings for our affordability and academic excellence. SMSU is dedicated to preparing scholars who become the leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs of the future.

Our Mission

Southwest Minnesota State University prepares students to meet the complex challenges of this century as engaged citizens in their local and global communities. Our comprehensive degree programs, taught in the liberal arts tradition, are dedicated to connecting students’ academic and practical professional development experiences in southwestern Minnesota to the wider world.

Our Vision

SMSU aspires to be recognized throughout Minnesota and beyond for being an inclusive and student-centered university.

Our Values

We Value:

  • Discovery through innovative teaching, research and other high-impact experiences.
  • Civic engagement and strategic partnerships.
  • Developing broadly educated and well-rounded leaders.

Our Leadership

The Minnesota State system appointed Dr. David P. Jones as interim president, effective July 1, 2025. The Minnesota State Board of Trustees confirmed Dr. Jones as permanent president on February 18, 2026. 

University Governance

Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of the Minnesota State system, governed by a 15-member board of trustees. Trustees are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Minnesota State Senate.

For more information about the Minnesota State system, visit their website at www.minnstate.edu.

Equity 2030

Minnesota’s moral and economic imperatives require eliminating educational equity gaps. Minnesota State’s guiding principle, Equity 2030, aims to eliminate educational equity gaps at all Minnesota State colleges and universities by 2030. Equity 2030 is an approach to intentionally rethink how Minnesota State and our colleges and universities operate on a day-to-day basis. As institutions of higher education, our core mission is represented by teaching and learning.

Strategic Dimensions

  • Enhanced Access: Enhancing access to higher education by strengthening partnerships and collaboration with K-12, business & industry, community-based organizations, and philanthropic partners to expand and grow current programming and identify new ways to support students.
  • Student Academic Success: Establishing guided learning pathways that focus on academic preparation, progression, and accomplishment within an area of study and career.
  • Student Success: Engagement and Support: Student experience within the institution, both academic and non-academic, including supporting basic needs.
  • Data-Guided Decision Making: Building technology infrastructure and capacity for deeper data analytics, and expanding campus capacity to interpret data and use it to guide decision-making.
  • Financial Resources and Support: Expanding financial resources and support for students and growing the financial resource base for campuses.
  • Workforce Diversity and Talent Development: Incorporating the local and national context with the changing student and employee demographics and needs, focusing on cultural competence development, inclusive hiring practices, and improved campus climate.

Our Accreditations

The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1413. (800) 621-7440.

For more information about the Higher Learning Commission, visit their website www.hlcommission.org
For information on the HLC Comprehensive Site Visit to SMSU in October 2018, visit our HLC Accreditation page. www.smsu.edu/administration/hlc

Specialized Accreditations:

  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
  • International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
  • National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships
  • The Council on Social Work Education
  • The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
  • The National Association of Schools of Music
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs  

Our Academic Organization

Academic Units

  • College of Arts, Letters, & Sciences
  • College of Business, Education & Professional Studies

Schools

  • North Star Mutual School of Business
  • School of Agriculture
  • School of Education
  • School of Graduate Studies

Departments

  • Agriculture, Culinology and Hospitality Management
  • Business Innovation & Strategy
  • Education
  • English, Philosophy, Spanish and Humanities
  • Fine Arts and Communication
  • Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Nursing
  • Science
  • Social Science

Majors and Minors

A list of majors and minors can be found in SMSU's academic catalog.

Our Students

Enrollment Figures from Fall 2025

  • Total Headcount: 8,507
  • Degree-seeking (undergrad): 2,476
  • Non-degree-seeking: 5,499
  • Graduate: 532
  • Full-time Equivalent (undergrad): 3,879
  • FTE Graduate & Undergrad: 4,240
  • Female: 67.5%
  • Male: 31.9%
  • Other: <1%
  • Unknown: 0.7%
  • Students of Color: 25.6%
  • Minnesota Residents: 78.9%
  • Counties Represented: 81
  • Out of State: 21.5%
  • States Represented: 39
  • International: 5.3%
  • Countries Represented (Demographics based on Degree-Seeking Undergraduate Students): 31
  • Students Living on Campus: 587
  • First Year/Freshmen Living on Campus: 69%
  • Student Housing Occupancy: 56%
  • Average Class Size: 15.4

In the Classroom

  • Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
  • Course sections <30 students: 91.9%
  • Course sections <50 students: 98%
  • First Year Retention: 73.6%
  • Eligible Students Named to Dean's List: 30%

Our Alumni & Placement

Alumni

  • Total Alumni: 24,617
  • Residing in Minnesota: 16,583
  • Employed at SMSU: 126

Student Employment and Placement

Mustang Athletics

NCAA Division II

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Men's Sports
  • Baseball
  • Cross Country
  • Track & Field
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Wrestling
Women's Sports
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Cross Country
  • Softball
  • Track & Field
  • Golf
  • Swimming & Diving
  • Volleyball
Co-ed Sports
  • Esports
  • Wheelchair Basketball

Athletic Highlights for the 2025-26 Year

  • SMSU student-athletes posted a department-record-setting 3.35 cumulative grade point average.
  • 228 student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  • SMSU student-athletes were also active in the community, racking up more than 2,000 hours of community service.
  • Volleyball had another stellar season, finishing the regular season ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Division II Top 25 poll. The Mustangs closed with a 21-7 overall record, notching a 20-plus-win campaign for the fifth straight season and the 21st time in the past 22 seasons.
  • Volleyball junior Leah Jones was named AVCA All-American honorable mention after leading SMSU with 401 kills, while hitting .263 on 1,087 attempts. She was the first Mustang to reach 400 kills in a season since 2021. Jones, who earned both All-NSIC and All-Central Region first team honors, led the conference with 306 kills.
  • Football senior Josiah Hedensten was named All-NSIC South Division first team. Hedensten, who led the team in tackles the past three seasons, racked up 117 tackles in 2025, ranking eighth in team single-season history. He finished his career ranking second in team history in total tackles (369), second in solo tackles (207), sixth in assisted tackles (162) and 10th in tackles for loss (30).
  • SMSU and the wrestling program hosted the NCAA Super Region V Championships inside the R/A Facility. It was the third time SMSU has hosted an NCAA regional meet in the team's history.
  • Men’s basketball won 16 games and played in the NSIC tournament quarterfinals for the third straight season.
  • Men’s basketball senior Jakob Braaten was named to the Trevor Hudgins Award Top 25 Watch List, which is presented annually to the senior who has had the finest overall career within small college basketball. He was also named to the Top 100 Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award, awarded annually to the best small college Basketball player for a single season.
  • Braaten was honored with the NSIC 'Bob Olson Outstanding Senior of the Year Award,' which is presented to a student-athlete who participates at his institution for four years, is academically superior, and makes a positive contribution to his team and University.
  • Women’s basketball won 17 games and played in the NSIC tournament quarterfinals for the fifth straight season.
  • Wheelchair basketball placed fourth at the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.
  • Senior wheelchair basketball player Emmanuel Fuentes Cervantes earned NWBA All-American first team honors for the third straight season.
  • Senior wheelchair basketball player Fermin Wingerter was named NWBA All-American second team.
  • Baseball player sophomore Jameson Quinn tossed the ninth no-hitter in team history in a 1-0 victory at Minnesota Duluth on April 25.
  • Senior baseball player Levi Lampert set a program record by reaching base in 64 straight games (Feb. 25, 2025-March 10, 2026).
  • Softball finished the season with 32 victories—its highest win total since 2009—and just the 11th 30-plus win season in program history.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SMSU

  • 52 NSIC regular-season championships
  • 1 NCAA National Runner-up
  • 3 NCAA Region Championships
  • 3 NIWBT National Championships
  • 4 Individual National Champions
  • Nearly 300 All-American awards
  • 30 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
  • 3 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients
  • 2 NCAA Volleyball National Player of the Year awards
  • 1 NCAA Women's Basketball National Player of the Year
  • 8 NSIC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards
  • 3 NSIC Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year awards
  • 8 NCAA Division II Awards of Excellence for Civic Engagement

Our Faculty and Staff

Faculty full-time versus part-time

  • Faculty Full-time: 126
  • Faculty Part-time: 130
Faculty Rank Total
Professor 48
Associate Professor 32
Assistant Professor 32
Instructor/Adjunct 32

Percent of full-time faculty with the highest degree in their field

  • FT Faculty with the Highest Degree in the Field: 85%
  • Staff Full-time: 187
  • Staff Part-time: 50

Our Tuition and Affordability

Tuition (2026-27)

  • Undergrad Tuition & Fees (full-time): $11,516
  • Undergrad Housing & Food (double room): $11,850
  • Undergrad tuition (per credit): $349.62
  • Graduate tuition (per credit): $569.68

SMSU does NOT charge out-of-state tuition

Financial Aid (2025-26)

  • Average Financial Aid Package: $11,894
  • Students Receiving Aid: 92%
  • Nearly $10 million awarded in Financial Aid

Student Employment On-Campus

  • Students with Work-Study Jobs: 7.3%
  • Students with Regular Payroll Jobs: 15.4%

Our Accolades

US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKINGS

  • Top 15 in the Nation for Affordable Out-of-State Tuition

TEACHING DEGREE SEARCH.COM RANKINGS

  • No. 1 nationally for Best Value School for Education Students
  • No. 1 nationally for Teaching English or French Students
  • No. 1 in the Plains States for General Education Students
  • No. 1 in the Plains States for Teaching English or French Students
  • No. 1 in Minnesota for General Education Students

SHIKSHA.COM/STUDYABROAD

  • Top 7 in the U.S. for affordable tuition for international students

COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION

  • SMSU’s commitment to engaged, hands-on education has resulted in being named a 2023-2024 College of Distinction, a trusted resource that helps students find the right college. Colleges of Distinction selected SMSU for its student-centered education, dynamic learning environment, and inclusivity.

NATIONALBESTACCREDITEDCOLLEGES.ORG (2023)

  • #10 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Law Enforcement (Justice Admin/Criminal Justice)
  • #10 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education
  • #14 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
  • #30 Best Online Bachelor’s in History
  • #34 Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting

PLEXUSS GLOBAL RANKINGS

  • No. 1 in Minnesota for Early Childhood Education Programs
  • No. 4 in Minnesota for Agriculture Programs

AFFORDABLESCHOOLS.NET RANKINGS

  • No. 4 for Best Affordable Schools in Minnesota for Bachelor’s Degrees
  • No. 7 nationally for Most Affordable Colleges for Hospitality Degree Programs
  • No. 8 nationally for Most Affordable Online Schools for Out-of-State Students, Master’s Degree
  • No. 10 nationally for Best Affordable ESL Teaching Degree Program

RNTOBSN.ORG RANKING

  • No. 1 in Minnesota for Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs

NICHE.COM RANKING

YOURLOCALSECURITY.COM RANKING

  • No. 1 Safest Campus in Minnesota

MILITARY FRIENDLY SCHOOL RANKING

MILITARY SPOUSE FRIENDLY SCHOOL RANKING

  • No. 3 nationally in the Small Public University classification

REGISTEREDNURSING.ORG

  • No. 5 in Minnesota for Online RN to BSN Programs

Our Assets and Financial Data

The Campus

  • Number of Acres: 216
  • Number of Buildings: 27
  • Building Space Maintained: 1,233,169 sq. ft
  • Building Replacement Value: $463,830,274

Financial Data*

Revenue
  • Net Tuition and Fees: $14,234,000
  • State Operating Appropriation: $21,147,000
  • Other Revenue: $17,757,000
Expenses
  • Salaries and Benefits: $38,679,000
  • Other: $17,784,000
Assets
  • Total Net Position: $44,454,000

*(Financial data from fiscal year ended June 30, 2022)

SMSU Foundation

Fiscal Year 2025: (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025)

  • Assets: $40,271,421
  • Contributions Received: $3,260,006
  • Number of Donors: 2,876

Foundation Dollars Contributed:

  • Total Support to SMSU: $3,901,058
  • Scholarship Support: $1,351,533

www.SMSUFoundation.org | (800) 260-0970

The SMSU Foundation is served by a 31-member board of alumni and friends of the institution who strive to advance the Foundation's mission in support of SMSU. The SMSU Alumni Association, Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership (MARL), and Mustangs Booster Club organizations all fall under the leadership of the SMSU Foundation and are served by their own respective boards. These three organizations each have distinct missions that serve a broad range of constituents.

Our Role in the Economy

SMSU’s impact on the regional economy is estimated at $286.5 million, according to a study commissioned by the Minnesota State system in 2023. This includes a direct impact of $86.3 million and an indirect impact of $86.8 million.

The University supports and sustains 2,248 jobs each year—1,614 direct and 634 indirect. SMSU employs 413 people.

An estimated $4,265,823 in charitable donations and volunteer activities is generated annually by SMSU faculty, staff, and students. This includes donations of $538,755 and the equivalent of $3.7 million in volunteer time.

Approximately 9,080 alumni live and work in Minnesota, generating $424.5 million in economic impact and sustaining 2,309 jobs. Over the course of their 40-year careers, SMSU alumni are expected to generate approximately $17 billion in economic activity.

SMSU, our suppliers, students, and visitors generate a combined impact of $23.4 million on local and state tax revenue. This includes a direct impact of $15.9 million and an indirect impact of $7.5 million.

Read More About Our Impact

Our Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan is the product of campus-wide collaboration to envision the future for SMSU and to guide our decision-making for the next five years (2021-2026).

The Strategic Plan is a dynamic document that is regularly updated to reflect the evolving needs of our students and the institution. The Strategic Plan articulates six strategic priorities that will guide the University in pursuit of its Mission, Vision, and Values:

  1. Affirm and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  2. Inspire academic success and discovery through innovative teaching, research, student support services, and other high-impact experiences.
  3. Foster civic engagement and strategic partnerships.
  4. Support student engagement and leadership development.
  5. Ensure Effective Institutional Operations and Community Well-being.
  6. Increase enrollment and improve retention.

For further information, visit: www.smsu.edu/administration/strategicplanning

Our Community

SMSU is located in Marshall, Minnesota, a friendly, growing community of nearly 14,000 residents. Marshall, named one of America’s Best Small Cities, is an easy drive from the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Sioux Falls, SD, and Fargo, ND. Marshall is also the proud home of Schwan’s Company, Action TrackChair, Runnings, and Ralco, along with major employers U.S. Bank, ADM, and Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center. Marshall is also home to the Red Baron Arena & Expo, a premier ice facility and event center.

For more information about Marshall, visit: visitmarshallmn.com

Refer a Student

Alumni and current faculty/staff, please consider referring future Mustangs to the Office of Admission at:

Contact the Office of Admission:
(507) 537-6286
Admission@SMSU.edu
www.SMSU.edu/admission

Published by:
SMSU Communications & Marketing Office and
Data Management & Institutional Research
1501 State Street · Marshall, MN 56258

Last Modified: 8/24/26 11:22 AM | Website Feedback