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South Dakota State University University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana Truman State Augustana University South Dakota School of Mines and Technology WLC NSU UNI ISU| Bethany Lutheran College | University of South Dakota | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BLC | USD | ||
| Location | Mankato, MN | Vermillion, SD | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 830 | 9,856 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #597 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Other (none of the above) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | blc.edu | usd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BLC | USD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,330 | $7,773 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,330 | $11,283 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,270 | $8,224 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,525 | $18,378 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,705 | $6,308 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 79% |
Admission |
BLC | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 665 | 4,480 | ||
| Admitted | 389 | 4,456 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 58.5% | 99.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45.2% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.51 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/25 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1290 | 1020/1300 | ||
| 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 1, 2025 |
Academics |
BLC | USD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BLC | USD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,300 | $48,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $258 |
Diversity |
BLC | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 88% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
BLC | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 43% | ||
Campus |
BLC | USD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Dakota is larger than than BLC based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 830 students)
BLC vs. USD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BLC or USD?
- Bethany Lutheran College is 264.5% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($28,330.00 vs. $7,773.00)
- Out of state tuition is 151.1% higher at BLC than University of South Dakota ($28,330.00 vs. $11,283.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Dakota than BLC ($18,378 vs. $18,525)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 0.6% lower than costs at Bethany Lutheran College ($8,224 vs. $8,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Bethany Lutheran College than University of South Dakota (100% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany Lutheran College students is 228.2% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($20,705 vs. $6,308)
BLC vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BLC or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or BLC .
- The average SAT score at Bethany Lutheran College (1074) is 25 points higher than at USD (1049)
- Incoming BLC students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at USD (23)
- Accepted freshman BLC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at USD (3.43)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than BLC (58.5%)
BLC vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BLC or USD? 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 USD and BLC.
- The graduation rate at BLC is higher than University of South Dakota (53% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $10,900 more per year than BLC graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $37,300)
- Bethany Lutheran College students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
- BLC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
- More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/