Alabama State vs. Black Hills State University

Should I go to Alabama State University or Black Hills State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama State or Black Hills State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama State University vs. Black Hills State University comparison
Alabama State University Black Hills State University College 3 College 4
Alabama State University Black Hills State University
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Overview

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Location Montgomery, AL Spearfish, SD
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 3,828 3,425
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1016 #1006
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alasu.edu bhsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Tuition (In State) $8,328 $7,700
Tuition (Out of State) $16,656 $10,800
Room & Board $6,050 $7,528
Avg Net Price $13,176 $16,782
Avg Grant Aid $10,029 $4,986
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,731 1,579
Admitted 6,502 1,526
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 96.6%
Enrolled % 14.5% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.95 3.22
Typical High School Grades B- B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/20 18/24
SAT Range 828/1041 970/1085
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Graduation Rate 26% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,500 $38,800
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $32,091 $25,478
Median Loan Payment $331 $263

Diversity

Alabama State Black Hills State University
% Men 35% 37%
% Women 65% 63%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 83%
% Black 93% 2%
% Hispanic 1% 5%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Alabama State Black Hills State University
% In-State 37% 57%
% Out-of-State 62% 42%

Campus

Alabama State Black Hills State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Alabama State University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (3,828 students vs. 3,425 students)

Alabama State vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or Black Hills State University?

  • Alabama State University is 8.2% more expensive to attend than Black Hills State University for in-state tuition ($8,328.00 vs. $7,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.2% higher at Alabama State than Black Hills State University ($16,656.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama State University than Black Hills State University ($13,176 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 24.4% lower than costs at Black Hills State University ($6,050 vs. $7,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University than Alabama State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama State University students is 101.1% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($10,029 vs. $4,986)

Alabama State vs. Black Hills State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or Black Hills State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Black Hills State University or Alabama State .

  • The average SAT score at Black Hills State University (988) is 144 points higher than at Alabama State (844)
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Alabama State (18)
  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Alabama State (2.95)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than Alabama State (96.6%)

Alabama State vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama State or Black Hills State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Black Hills State University and Alabama State.

  • The graduation rate at Black Hills State University is higher than Alabama State University (28% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Black Hills State University earn on average $9,300 more per year than Alabama State graduates after ten years. ($38,800 vs. $29,500)
  • Black Hills State University students graduate with a $6,613 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama State graduates. ($25,478 vs. $32,091)
  • Black Hills State University graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama State graduates. ($263 vs. $331)
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/