NDSU vs. Dakota State

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

 NDSU Dakota State
Location Fargo, ND Madison, SD
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 12,242 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #568 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ndsu.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NDSU Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $9,309 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $13,963 $10,718
Room & Board $9,300 $8,018
Avg Net Price $15,962 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $5,732 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 92%

Admission

 NDSU Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,535 882
Admitted 8,166 696
Acceptance Rate 95.7% 78.9%
Enrolled % 30.8% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 19/27
SAT Range 968/1216 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 NDSU Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 NDSU Dakota State
Graduation Rate 54% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,600 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,300 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $240 $242

Diversity

 NDSU Dakota State
% Men 49% 64%
% Women 51% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 84%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 NDSU Dakota State
% In-State 35% 58%
% Out-of-State 65% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 3,241 students)

NDSU vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NDSU or Dakota State?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 22.2% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at NDSU than Dakota State University ($13,963.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than Dakota State ($15,962 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 16% lower than costs at North Dakota State University Main Campus ($8,018 vs. $9,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than North Dakota State University Main Campus (92% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Dakota State University Main Campus students is 4.8% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($5,732 vs. $5,467)

NDSU vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 44 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming NDSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

NDSU vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NDSU 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 NDSU.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than Dakota State University (54% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $11,400 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $42,200)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($23,300 vs. $23,500)
  • NDSU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($240 vs. $242)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 67%)

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