Head-to-head comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University vs Inver Hills Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Marshall, MN
Southwest Minnesota State University
- Net price / year
- $15,291
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,342
- Payback
- 20.5 yrs
Option B Inver Grove Heights, MN
Inver Hills Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,636
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,898
- Payback
- 15.1 yrs
Inver Hills Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $23,272 in 15.1 years versus 20.5 years at Southwest Minnesota State University, on median earnings of $49,898 vs $51,342 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwest Minnesota State University | Inver Hills Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,291 | $11,636 |
| Total net cost | $61,164 | $23,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,342 | $49,898 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $13,965 |
| Payback | 20.5 yrs | 15.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$1,524 | $7,488 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southwest Minnesota State University or Inver Hills Community College?
Inver Hills Community College, at $11,636 a year after aid versus $15,291 — a gap of $3,655 a year, or $37,892 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 Southwest Minnesota State University or Inver Hills Community College graduates earn more?
Southwest Minnesota State University graduates report a median $51,342 ten years after entry, $1,444 more than the $49,898 at Inver Hills Community College. 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, Southwest Minnesota State University or Inver Hills Community College?
Inver Hills Community College: its completers carry a median $13,965 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Southwest Minnesota State University, a difference of $6,535. 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?
45% of students finish at Southwest Minnesota State University, against 24% at Inver Hills Community College. 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.