Dakota State vs. UW

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

Dakota State UW
Location Madison, SD Laramie, WY
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 3,241 11,100
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #808 #331
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dsu.edu uwyo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Dakota State UW
Tuition (In State) $7,616 $4,800
Tuition (Out of State) $10,718 $19,950
Room & Board $8,018 $11,610
Avg Net Price $17,977 $12,819
Avg Grant Aid $5,467 $8,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 94%

Admission

Dakota State UW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 882 5,797
Admitted 696 5,564
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 96%
Enrolled % 53.4% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 21/28
SAT Range 940/1240 1040/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Dakota State UW
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Dakota State UW
Graduation Rate 34% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $18,500
Median Loan Payment $242 $191

Diversity

Dakota State UW
% Men 64% 46%
% Women 36% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 76%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

Dakota State UW
% In-State 58% 56%
% Out-of-State 39% 40%

Campus

Dakota State UW
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

  • University of Wyoming is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (11,100 students vs. 3,241 students)

Dakota State vs. UW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dakota State or UW?

  • Dakota State University is 58.7% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $4,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 86.1% higher at UW than Dakota State University ($19,950.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than Dakota State ($12,819 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 44.8% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($8,018 vs. $11,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wyoming than Dakota State University (94% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 63.6% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($8,942 vs. $5,467)

Dakota State vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Wyoming (1122) is 75 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming UW students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • UW has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

Dakota State vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Dakota State or UW? 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 UW and Dakota State.

  • The graduation rate at UW is higher than Dakota State University (53% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $9,200 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $42,200)
  • University of Wyoming students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($18,500 vs. $23,500)
  • UW graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($191 vs. $242)
  • More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 67%)

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