Head-to-head comparison
Bemidji State University vs Southwest Minnesota State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bemidji, MN
Bemidji State University
- Net price / year
- $15,261
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,755
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
Option B Marshall, MN
Southwest Minnesota State University
- Net price / year
- $15,291
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,342
- Payback
- 20.5 yrs
Bemidji State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,044 in 11.3 years versus 20.5 years at Southwest Minnesota State University, on median earnings of $53,755 vs $51,342 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bemidji State University | Southwest Minnesota State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,261 | $15,291 |
| Total net cost | $61,044 | $61,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,755 | $51,342 |
| Median debt | $19,750 | $20,500 |
| Payback | 11.3 yrs | 20.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $46,856 | -$1,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bemidji State University or Southwest Minnesota State University?
Bemidji State University, at $15,261 a year after aid versus $15,291 — a gap of $30 a year, or $120 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bemidji State University or Southwest Minnesota State University graduates earn more?
Bemidji State University graduates report a median $53,755 ten years after entry, $2,413 more than the $51,342 at Southwest Minnesota State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bemidji State University or Southwest Minnesota State University?
Bemidji State University: its completers carry a median $19,750 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Southwest Minnesota State University, a difference of $750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Bemidji State University, against 45% at Southwest Minnesota State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.