Mills College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University

Should I go to Mills College or Dakota Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mills College or Dakota Wesleyan University 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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Mills College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University comparison
Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Mills College
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Overview

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Location Oakland, CA Mitchell, SD
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 817 887
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mills.edu dwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Tuition (In State) $29,340 $30,700
Tuition (Out of State) $29,340 $30,700
Room & Board $14,369 $7,450
Avg Net Price - $19,825
Avg Grant Aid $0 $21,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 100%

Admission

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,209
Admitted - 904
Acceptance Rate 74.8%
Enrolled % 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 30/31 18/24
SAT Range 1378/1413 950/1420
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2025

Academics

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • English and Literature (16%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Ethnic Studies (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Graduation Rate 57% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $38,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $26,533
Median Loan Payment $242 $274

Diversity

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
% Men 9% 46%
% Women 91% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 88%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 24% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 10% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
% In-State 75% 61%
% Out-of-State 22% 35%

Campus

 Mills College Dakota Wesleyan University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Dakota Wesleyan University is larger than than Mills College based on total student enrollment (887 students vs. 817 students)

Mills College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mills College or Dakota Wesleyan University?

  • Dakota Wesleyan University is 4.6% more expensive to attend than Mills College for in-state tuition ($30,700.00 vs. $29,340.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at Dakota Wesleyan University than Mills College ($30,700.00 vs. $29,340.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota Wesleyan University are 92.9% lower than costs at Mills College ($7,450 vs. $14,369)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota Wesleyan University than Mills College (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota Wesleyan University students is ?% larger than aid received Mills College ($21,097 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Mills College (1183) is 201 points higher than at Dakota Wesleyan University (982)
  • Incoming Mills College students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Mills College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Dakota Wesleyan University (3.36)

Mills College vs. Dakota Wesleyan University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mills College or Dakota Wesleyan University? 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 Dakota Wesleyan University and Mills College.

  • The graduation rate at Mills College is higher than Dakota Wesleyan University (57% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Mills College earn on average $6,200 more per year than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $38,200)
  • Mills College students graduate with a $3,033 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,533)
  • Mills College graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota Wesleyan University graduates. ($242 vs. $274)
  • More Dakota Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mills College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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