Queens College vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Queens College in Queens, NY with University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Queens College is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (15,965 students vs. 10,619 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Queens College is located in Queens, NY (Large City setting); University of South Dakota is in Vermillion, SD (Distant Town setting).
• CUNY Queens College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Dakota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Queens College 13:1; University of South Dakota 16:1.

Queens College vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Queens College or USD? 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 CUNY Queens College than USD ($5,728 vs. $19,133).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 39.6% lower than at CUNY Queens College ($10,356 vs. $17,132).
• University of South Dakota is 25.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Queens College (about $1,894 more per year; $9,432.00 vs. $7,538.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Queens College than at University of South Dakota (about $2,546 more per year; $15,488.00 vs. $12,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Dakota than at CUNY Queens College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY Queens College students is 61.1% larger than aid received by University of South Dakota students ($9,057 vs. $5,623).

Queens College vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Queens College or USD? 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 USD and Queens College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Dakota (1220) is 70 points higher than at Queens College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Queens College 1010/1290; University of South Dakota 1125/1315.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of South Dakota 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Queens College - Test optional; USD - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Queens College (3.0).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Queens College (64.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Queens College vs. 24.1% at USD.

Queens College vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Queens College and USD? 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).

• CUNY Queens College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than University of South Dakota's (47%).
• Graduates from CUNY Queens College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,800 vs. $48,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Queens College graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($11,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Queens College graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($113 vs. $258).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Queens College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)

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.