Black Hills State University vs. South Dakota State University

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

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
Location Spearfish, SD Brookings, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 3,425 11,327
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1006 #600
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bhsu.edu sdstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
Tuition (In State) $7,700 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $10,800 $11,283
Room & Board $7,528 $8,087
Avg Net Price $16,782 $18,160
Avg Grant Aid $4,986 $4,551
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,579 6,364
Admitted 1,526 5,478
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 86.1%
Enrolled % 31.5% 40%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.53
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 970/1085 1020/1245
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

Academics

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Agriculture (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
Graduation Rate 28% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $47,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,478 $25,116
Median Loan Payment $263 $259

Diversity

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
% Men 37% 44%
% Women 63% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 88%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 4% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Black Hills State University South Dakota State University
% In-State 57% 50%
% Out-of-State 42% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • South Dakota State University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (11,327 students vs. 3,425 students)

Black Hills State University vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

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

  • South Dakota State University is 0.9% more expensive to attend than Black Hills State University for in-state tuition ($7,773.00 vs. $7,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.5% higher at South Dakota State University than Black Hills State University ($11,283.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Black Hills State University than South Dakota State University ($16,782 vs. $18,160)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 7.4% lower than costs at South Dakota State University ($7,528 vs. $8,087)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University as South Dakota State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Black Hills State University students is 9.6% larger than aid received South Dakota State University ($4,986 vs. $4,551)

Black Hills State University vs. South Dakota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at South Dakota State University (1068) is 80 points higher than at Black Hills State University (988)
  • Incoming South Dakota State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Black Hills State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman South Dakota State University students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22)
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than South Dakota State University (86.1%)

Black Hills State University vs. South Dakota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Black Hills State University or South Dakota 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 South Dakota State University and Black Hills State University.

  • The graduation rate at South Dakota State University is higher than Black Hills State University (60% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from South Dakota State University earn on average $8,900 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $38,800)
  • South Dakota State University students graduate with a $362 lower median federal student loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates. ($25,116 vs. $25,478)
  • South Dakota State University graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Black Hills State University graduates. ($259 vs. $263)
  • More South Dakota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Black Hills State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 62%)

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