Benedictine College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University

Should I go to Benedictine College or Dakota Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Benedictine College or Dakota Wesleyan 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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Benedictine College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University comparison
Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
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Overview

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Location Atchison, KS Mitchell, SD
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,362 887
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #662
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website benedictine.edu dwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Tuition (In State) $32,920 $30,700
Tuition (Out of State) $32,920 $30,700
Room & Board $11,580 $7,450
Avg Net Price $30,067 $19,825
Avg Grant Aid $20,907 $21,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,895 1,209
Admitted 2,861 904
Acceptance Rate 98.8% 74.8%
Enrolled % 20.7% 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 18/24
SAT Range 1110/1360 950/1420
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 Aug 27, 2025

Academics

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Graduation Rate 56% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $38,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,533
Median Loan Payment $279 $274

Diversity

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
% Men 49% 46%
% Women 51% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 88%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
% In-State 16% 61%
% Out-of-State 83% 35%

Campus

Benedictine College Dakota Wesleyan University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Benedictine College is larger than than Dakota Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (2,362 students vs. 887 students)

Benedictine College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Benedictine College or Dakota Wesleyan University?

  • Benedictine College is 7.2% more expensive to attend than Dakota Wesleyan University for in-state tuition ($32,920.00 vs. $30,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.2% higher at Benedictine College than Dakota Wesleyan University ($32,920.00 vs. $30,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota Wesleyan University than Benedictine College ($19,825 vs. $30,067)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota Wesleyan University are 55.4% lower than costs at Benedictine College ($7,450 vs. $11,580)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Benedictine College as Dakota Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota Wesleyan University students is 0.9% larger than aid received Benedictine College ($21,097 vs. $20,907)

Benedictine College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Benedictine College or Dakota Wesleyan University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Dakota Wesleyan University or Benedictine College .

  • The average SAT score at Benedictine College (1129) is 147 points higher than at Dakota Wesleyan University (982)
  • Incoming Benedictine College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Benedictine College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (3.36)
  • Benedictine College has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Dakota Wesleyan University (74.8%)

Benedictine College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Benedictine College or Dakota Wesleyan 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 Dakota Wesleyan University and Benedictine College.

  • The graduation rate at Benedictine College is higher than Dakota Wesleyan University (56% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Benedictine College earn on average $4,400 more per year than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $38,200)
  • Dakota Wesleyan University students graduate with a $467 lower median federal student loan debt than Benedictine College graduates. ($26,533 vs. $27,000)
  • Dakota Wesleyan University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Benedictine College graduates. ($274 vs. $279)
  • More Benedictine College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 71%)

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