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SMSU tuition remains affordable

College tuition prices are rising at an alarming rate. According to ValuePenguin Inc., the cost of attendance of four-year public university in 1990 was $5070 per year and by 2019 that cost rose to $25,290. At a four-year private university, the cost of attendance in 1990 was $13,480 per year and in 2019, it has gone up to $50,900 per year. In just 40 years, the cost of attendance of college including tuition, fees, room and board has more than doubled for both private and public four-year universities. Furthermore, the price students end up paying for tuition and fees went up in most years–including 2019–since grants, aid, and tax benefits didn’t keep up with the large tuition hikes. The increase in the cost of college has not only made college out of reach for many students in the country, but also made the public skeptical of the return on investment for a college degree.

Nearly 25% of this year’s college freshman who were admitted to their first-choice college did not enroll there due to the cost, according a survey released recently of 4,600 college freshmen by EAB, a Washington D.C.-based higher education consulting firm. Research also shows that a person with a college degree can earn approximately $1.4 million more during their career than a person with just a high school diploma. This dichotomy between cost and value of a college degree have made many students and parents confounded about making college decisions.

At Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), the undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $8,908 per year, substantially lower than the national average. This makes SMSU one of the most affordable universities in Minnesota and beyond. Also, SMSU does not charge out-of-state tuition to students–including international students–though reciprocity rates may apply to students from some states. Additionally, our “banding” of tuition allows students to take up to 18 credit hours and pay for 12 credit hours. These advantages, along with many others, have led SMSU to be ranked the seventh most affordable among colleges and universities in the U.S. by the Best Value Colleges.

The return on investment at SMSU is unequivocal, not only because of the low cost of attendance, but also because 99% of our graduates from the Class of 2017 are reporting that they are employed in their first job or enrolled in a graduate program. Furthermore, 93% of them reported they are employed in a job related to their field of study. This incredible success allows SMSU to set itself apart from other colleges with our MUSTANG PROMISE. We are so confident in the relevance, quality, and value of our students’ education that we GUARANTEE they will find a job within six months of graduation. We can guarantee a job after graduation from SMSU because our successful alumni have proven it.

In this unique program, students work with their faculty adviser and the SMSU Career Services staff throughout their college career to take steps that are proven to lead to success in the job search. If students do their part and still do not land a job related to their major within six months of graduation, we will give them FREE TUITION for their first semester in one of our master’s degree programs.

To our knowledge, SMSU is the only public university in the state of Minnesota to boldly offer this kind of guarantee. We believe in the quality and value of the education we offer. SMSU degrees lead to employment. We promise it. Learn more at www.SMSU.edu/MustangPromise.

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