SMSU Athletics

Founded in 1967, Southwest Minnesota State University offers both liberal arts and professional programs on a modern 215-acre campus in Marshall, Minnesota. Since its inception, the primary mission of Southwest Minnesota State University has been to offer undergraduate degree programs.

The largest undergraduate programs at SMSU are elementary and early childhood education and accounting. Wellness and human performance, computer science, literature, business administration, biology, and psychology are among other popular programs.

In 1996, the university began offering its first graduate degrees. Students can currently pursue over 46 baccalaureate majors, four associate degree majors, 40 minors, 16 preprofessional programs, and three master's degrees (business, education and special education).

Southwest Minnesota State University strives to meet the needs of this region of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The university takes special pride in its regional and rural studies, global studies, honors programs,
and facilities and services well suited for physically disabled students.

The campus features a total of 24 buildings with all 11 academic buildings, student center and food service interconnected. Approximately 1,000 students live on campus in 27 well-designed residence halls, which are housed in nine buildings. Each residence hall accommodates about 40 students. The campus also features a child-care facility and a religious center.

The campus landscape has been enhanced in recent years by the construction of the 71,000 square foot multi-purpose R/A (Recreation/Athletic) Facility. A state-of-the-art $18.2 million Student Center Complex opened in the summer of 2005 and includes food service and student service areas and a grand entrance onto the campus.

Also, the SMSU library had a $9.2 million renovation that was completed in the fall of 2005 and includes a new entrance, a user-friendlier configuration and numerous technology infrastructure improvements. SMSU is also the home of a new $16 million regional events center that opened in the fall of 2008 and is the official home of SMSU football and soccer as well as many other high school and regional events.

Southwest Minnesota State University graduated its first four-year class in 1971.

Today the University's alumni body totals over 12,300, of which over 65 percent live in Minnesota. With an enrollment of 5,039 students and a teaching faculty of 130 full-time and 26 part-time, Southwest Minnesota State offers a friendly, cohesive learning environment with small-sized classes and close interaction between faculty and students.

To learn more about Southwest Minnesota State University, visit www.smsu.edu.