DCTC vs. M State

Deciding between Dakota County Technical College and Minnesota State Community and Technical College? 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.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DCTC Rosemount, MN
  • M State Fergus Falls, MN
  • Setting
  • DCTC Rural Fringe
  • M State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • DCTC 2,894
  • M State 5,645
  • Type
  • DCTC Public 2 Year
  • M State Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Status
  • DCTC Non-profit
  • M State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DCTC
  • M State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DCTC $6,679
  • M State $5,908
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DCTC $6,679
  • M State $5,908
  • Room & Board
  • DCTC $10,800
  • M State $8,820
  • Average Net Price
  • DCTC $12,935
  • M State $11,802
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DCTC $5,655
  • M State $5,456
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DCTC 54%
  • M State 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Admitted
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DCTC Open
  • M State Open
  • Enrolled
  • DCTC Open
  • M State Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • Typical ACT score
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • Average High School GPA
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • DCTC Unavailable
  • M State Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • ACT Range
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • SAT Range
  • DCTC
  • M State
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DCTC Open admission
  • M State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • DCTC
  • M State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DCTC 23:1
  • M State 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DCTC
    • Health Professions (34%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Construction Trades (8%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • M State
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Construction Trades (12%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DCTC -
  • M State -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DCTC $40,000
  • M State $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DCTC 54%
  • M State 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DCTC $10,770
  • M State $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DCTC $111
  • M State $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DCTC 57%
  • M State 37%
  • % Women
  • DCTC 43%
  • M State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DCTC Low
  • M State Low
  • HBCU
  • DCTC No
  • M State No
  • % White
  • DCTC 74%
  • M State 79%
  • % Asian
  • DCTC 4%
  • M State 2%
  • % Black
  • DCTC 9%
  • M State 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • DCTC 7%
  • M State 5%
  • % Native American
  • DCTC 0%
  • M State 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DCTC 0%
  • M State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DCTC 3%
  • M State 3%
  • % International
  • DCTC 1%
  • M State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DCTC 2%
  • M State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DCTC 94%
  • M State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DCTC 5%
  • M State 26%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DCTC No
  • M State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DCTC No
  • M State No
  • Meal Plan
  • DCTC No
  • M State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DCTC Yes
  • M State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • DCTC No
  • M State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN with Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is larger than DCTC based on total student enrollment (5,645 students vs. 2,894 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dakota County Technical College is located in Rosemount, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Minnesota State Community and Technical College is in Fergus Falls, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Dakota County Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dakota County Technical College 23:1; Minnesota State Community and Technical College 18:1.

DCTC vs. M State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DCTC or M State? 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 Minnesota State Community and Technical College than DCTC ($11,802 vs. $12,935).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State Community and Technical College are 18.3% lower than at Dakota County Technical College ($8,820 vs. $10,800).
  • Dakota County Technical College is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than M State (about $771 more per year; $6,679.00 vs. $5,908.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at DCTC than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (about $771 more per year; $6,679.00 vs. $5,908.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Minnesota State Community and Technical College than at Dakota County Technical College (55% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota County Technical College students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Minnesota State Community and Technical College students ($5,655 vs. $5,456).

DCTC vs. M State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DCTC or M State? 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 M State and DCTC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DCTC - Open admission; M State - Open admission.

DCTC vs. M State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DCTC and M State? 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).

  • Graduates from Dakota County Technical College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than M State graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dakota County Technical College graduates have a $1,230 lower median loan debt than M State graduates ($10,770 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, DCTC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than M State graduates ($111 vs. $124).
  • More DCTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former M State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 52%)

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.