Dakota State vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Location Madison, SD Rapid City, SD
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 3,241 2,492
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #808 #362
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dsu.edu sdsmt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Tuition (In State) $7,616 $7,820
Tuition (Out of State) $10,718 $12,240
Room & Board $8,018 $8,020
Avg Net Price $17,977 $21,124
Avg Grant Aid $5,467 $5,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 90%

Admission

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 882 1,514
Admitted 696 1,252
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 82.7%
Enrolled % 53.4% 43%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 23/29
SAT Range 940/1240 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 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)
  • Engineering (76%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduation Rate 34% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $242 $284

Diversity

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% Men 64% 76%
% Women 36% 24%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 84%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Dakota State South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% In-State 58% 37%
% Out-of-State 39% 62%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Dakota State University is larger than than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology based on total student enrollment (3,241 students vs. 2,492 students)

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

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

  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is 2.7% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($7,820.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than Dakota State University ($12,240.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($17,977 vs. $21,124)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 0% lower than costs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($8,018 vs. $8,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (92% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota State University students is 0.7% larger than aid received South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($5,467 vs. $5,431)

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

Which college is harder to get into, Dakota 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 Dakota State .

  • The average SAT score at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1200) is 153 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a higher acceptance rate (82.7%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

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

Which is better, Dakota 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 Dakota State.

  • The graduation rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is higher than Dakota State University (48% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn on average $17,800 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($242 vs. $284)
  • More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 67%)

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