MSU Moorhead vs. Dakota State

Should I go to Minnesota State University Moorhead or Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU Moorhead or Dakota State 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Minnesota State University-Mankato South Dakota State University NDSU Concordia College at Moorhead St. Cloud State University Winona State University Dakota Wesleyan University Liberty University University of Minnesota-Duluth Minnesota Arkansas State University USD
Minnesota State University Moorhead vs. Dakota State University comparison
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dakota State University College 3 College 4
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dakota State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Location Moorhead, MN Madison, SD
Setting Midsize Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 4,682 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #608 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mnstate.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $8,838 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $17,674 $10,718
Room & Board $10,104 $8,018
Avg Net Price $17,939 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $6,905 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 92%

Admission

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,898 882
Admitted 2,207 696
Acceptance Rate 56.6% 78.9%
Enrolled % 28.6% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 19/27
SAT Range 1080/1290 940/1240
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

Academics

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Graduation Rate 45% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,400 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,276 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $230 $242

Diversity

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
% Men 35% 64%
% Women 65% 36%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 84%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
% In-State 68% 58%
% Out-of-State 28% 39%

Campus

 MSU Moorhead Dakota State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Minnesota State University Moorhead is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (4,682 students vs. 3,241 students)

MSU Moorhead vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Moorhead or Dakota State?

  • Minnesota State University Moorhead is 16% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($8,838.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.9% higher at MSU Moorhead than Dakota State University ($17,674.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minnesota State University Moorhead than Dakota State ($17,939 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 26% lower than costs at Minnesota State University Moorhead ($8,018 vs. $10,104)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Minnesota State University Moorhead than Dakota State University (96% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minnesota State University Moorhead students is 26.3% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($6,905 vs. $5,467)

MSU Moorhead vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minnesota State University Moorhead (1049) is 2 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming MSU Moorhead students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman MSU Moorhead students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than MSU Moorhead (56.6%)

MSU Moorhead vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Moorhead or Dakota State? 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 State and MSU Moorhead.

  • The graduation rate at MSU Moorhead is higher than Dakota State University (45% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn on average $200 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($42,400 vs. $42,200)
  • Minnesota State University Moorhead students graduate with a $1,224 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($22,276 vs. $23,500)
  • MSU Moorhead graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($230 vs. $242)
  • More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Moorhead students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 65%)

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