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MSU South Dakota State University CU Boulder Colorado State Utah State University The University of Montana Idaho Montana Tech of the University of Montana Utah UCCS UNM Dakota Wesleyan University| Dakota State University | University of Wyoming | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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/