Black Hills State University vs. University of Sioux Falls

Deciding between Black Hills State University and University of Sioux Falls? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Black Hills State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
  • University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD
  • Setting
  • Black Hills State University Remote Town
  • University of Sioux Falls Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Black Hills State University 3,346
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,450
  • Type
  • Black Hills State University Public 4 Year
  • University of Sioux Falls Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Black Hills State University #1001
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Black Hills State University -
  • University of Sioux Falls American Baptist
  • Status
  • Black Hills State University Non-profit
  • University of Sioux Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Black Hills State University
  • University of Sioux Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Black Hills State University $8,764
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Black Hills State University $11,866
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Room & Board
  • Black Hills State University $12,160
  • University of Sioux Falls $9,270
  • Average Net Price
  • Black Hills State University $15,576
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,385
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Black Hills State University $6,070
  • University of Sioux Falls $12,782
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Black Hills State University 76%
  • University of Sioux Falls 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Black Hills State University Calculate
  • University of Sioux Falls Calculate
  • Applied
  • Black Hills State University 1,690
  • University of Sioux Falls 2,291
  • Admitted
  • Black Hills State University 1,628
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Black Hills State University 96.3%
  • University of Sioux Falls 82.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Black Hills State University 30.1%
  • University of Sioux Falls 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Black Hills State University 1050
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Black Hills State University 21
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Average High School GPA
  • Black Hills State University 3.22
  • University of Sioux Falls 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Black Hills State University B+
  • University of Sioux Falls A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Black Hills State University Very Easy
  • University of Sioux Falls Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Black Hills State University
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • ACT Range
  • Black Hills State University 18/24
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • SAT Range
  • Black Hills State University 965/1135
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Black Hills State University Test optional
  • University of Sioux Falls Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Black Hills State University
  • University of Sioux Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Black Hills State University 17:1
  • University of Sioux Falls 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Black Hills State University
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • University of Sioux Falls
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Black Hills State University 28%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Black Hills State University $38,800
  • University of Sioux Falls $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Black Hills State University 62%
  • University of Sioux Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Black Hills State University $25,478
  • University of Sioux Falls $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Black Hills State University $263
  • University of Sioux Falls $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Black Hills State University 37%
  • University of Sioux Falls 41%
  • % Women
  • Black Hills State University 63%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Black Hills State University Very Low
  • University of Sioux Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Black Hills State University No
  • University of Sioux Falls No
  • % White
  • Black Hills State University 83%
  • University of Sioux Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Black
  • Black Hills State University 2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Black Hills State University 5%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Native American
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • University of Sioux Falls 3%
  • % International
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Black Hills State University 55%
  • University of Sioux Falls 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Black Hills State University 44%
  • University of Sioux Falls 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD with University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Black Hills State University is larger than University of Sioux Falls based on total student enrollment (3,346 students vs. 1,450 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Black Hills State University is located in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting); University of Sioux Falls is in Sioux Falls, SD (Midsize City setting).
  • Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Sioux Falls is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Black Hills State University 17:1; University of Sioux Falls 18:1.

Black Hills State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black Hills State University or University of Sioux Falls? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Black Hills State University than University of Sioux Falls ($15,576 vs. $21,385).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Sioux Falls are 23.8% lower than at Black Hills State University ($9,270 vs. $12,160).
  • University of Sioux Falls is 148.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Black Hills State University (about $12,986 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $8,764.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.3% higher at University of Sioux Falls than at Black Hills State University (about $9,884 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $11,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Sioux Falls than at Black Hills State University (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Sioux Falls students is 110.6% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($12,782 vs. $6,070).

Black Hills State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Black Hills State University or University of Sioux Falls? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Sioux Falls and Black Hills State University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Black Hills State University 965/1135.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Black Hills State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Black Hills State University - Test optional; University of Sioux Falls - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman University of Sioux Falls students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22).
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than University of Sioux Falls (82.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Black Hills State University vs. 15.3% at University of Sioux Falls.

Black Hills State University vs. University of Sioux Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Black Hills State University and University of Sioux Falls? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Sioux Falls's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Black Hills State University's (28%).
  • Graduates from University of Sioux Falls earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $38,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Sioux Falls graduates have a $2,728 lower median loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates ($22,750 vs. $25,478).
  • Among borrowers, University of Sioux Falls graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Black Hills State University graduates ($235 vs. $263).
  • More University of Sioux Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Black Hills State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.