Dakota State vs. UVM

Deciding between Dakota State University and University of Vermont? 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.

Dakota State University
University of Vermont

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dakota State Madison, SD
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • Dakota State Distant Town
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dakota State 3,774
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • Dakota State Public 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dakota State #718
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dakota State -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • Dakota State Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dakota State
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dakota State $9,654
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dakota State $12,756
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • Dakota State $9,742
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • Dakota State $20,438
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dakota State $5,371
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dakota State 88%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dakota State 2,418
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • Dakota State 2,129
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dakota State 88%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Dakota State 18%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dakota State 1320
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dakota State 23
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dakota State 3.33
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dakota State B+
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dakota State Difficult
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dakota State
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dakota State 20/27
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • Dakota State 1190/1440
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dakota State Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dakota State
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dakota State 18:1
  • UVM 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dakota State
    • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dakota State 34%
  • UVM 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dakota State $42,200
  • UVM $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dakota State 67%
  • UVM 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dakota State $23,500
  • UVM $22,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dakota State $242
  • UVM $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dakota State 61%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • Dakota State 39%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dakota State Very Low
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Dakota State No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • Dakota State 84%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • Dakota State 1%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • Dakota State 4%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dakota State 4%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • Dakota State 1%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dakota State 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dakota State 3%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • Dakota State 1%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dakota State 1%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dakota State 58%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dakota State 22%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Dakota State University in Madison, SD with University of Vermont in Burlington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Vermont is larger than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (14,476 students vs. 3,774 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dakota State University is located in Madison, SD (Distant Town setting); University of Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Dakota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dakota State University 18:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

Dakota State vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dakota State or UVM? 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 University of Vermont than Dakota State ($20,084 vs. $20,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 29.3% lower than at University of Vermont ($9,742 vs. $13,776).
  • University of Vermont is 97.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dakota State (about $9,404 more per year; $19,058.00 vs. $9,654.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 256.7% higher at UVM than at Dakota State University (about $32,746 more per year; $45,502.00 vs. $12,756.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Dakota State University (93% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Vermont students is 270.5% larger than aid received by Dakota State University students ($19,897 vs. $5,371).

Dakota State vs. UVM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dakota State or UVM? 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 UVM and Dakota State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Vermont (1370) is 50 points higher than at Dakota State (1320).
  • Incoming UVM students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 23 at Dakota State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dakota State University 1190/1440; University of Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dakota State University 20/27; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dakota State - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UVM students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Dakota State (3.33).
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than UVM (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at Dakota State vs. 15.8% at UVM.

Dakota State vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dakota State and UVM? 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 Vermont's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Dakota State University's (34%).
  • Graduates from University of Vermont earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Dakota State graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $1,200 lower median loan debt than Dakota State graduates ($22,300 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dakota State graduates ($230 vs. $242).
  • More UVM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 67%)

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.