Colorado State vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 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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Colorado State University Fort Collins vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins South Dakota School of Mines and Technology College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Overview

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Location Fort Collins, CO Rapid City, SD
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 33,403 2,492
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #362
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu sdsmt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $7,820
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $12,240
Room & Board $13,728 $8,020
Avg Net Price $16,926 $21,124
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $5,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 90%

Admission

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 1,514
Admitted 30,066 1,252
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 82.7%
Enrolled % 18.5% 43%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 23/29
SAT Range 1080/1290 1160/1378
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 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Engineering (76%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduation Rate 64% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $217 $284

Diversity

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% Men 45% 76%
% Women 55% 24%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 84%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% In-State 59% 37%
% Out-of-State 40% 62%

Campus

Colorado State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 2,492 students)

Colorado State vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 30.7% more expensive to attend than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $7,820.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.7% higher at Colorado State than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($30,078.00 vs. $12,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($16,926 vs. $21,124)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 71.2% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($8,020 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than Colorado State University Fort Collins (90% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 97.5% larger than aid received South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($10,727 vs. $5,431)

Colorado State vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1200) is 55 points higher than at Colorado State (1145)
  • Incoming South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Colorado State (25)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (3.57)
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (82.7%)

Colorado State vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 School of Mines and Technology and Colorado State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (64% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn on average $8,200 more per year than Colorado State graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $51,800)
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $6,496 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($21,004 vs. $27,500)
  • Colorado State graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($217 vs. $284)
  • More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 69%)

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