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Colorado School of Mines CU Boulder NDSU South Dakota State University Nebraska USD UW Michigan Tech Colorado State Northwest Pitt State Black Hills State University| Northern State University | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
| Location | Aberdeen, SD | Rapid City, SD | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,521 | 2,492 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #871 | #422 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northern.edu | sdsmt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,616 | $7,800 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,718 | $12,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,300 | $8,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,873 | $20,243 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,565 | $4,746 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 83% |
Admission |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,082 | 1,539 | ||
| Admitted | 1,004 | 1,312 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.8% | 85.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.8% | 37.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 800/1150 | 1130/1320 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $60,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 79% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,399 | $27,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $252 | $284 |
Diversity |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 72% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 61% | ||
Campus |
NSU | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern State University is larger than than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology based on total student enrollment (3,521 students vs. 2,492 students)
NSU vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NSU or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is 2.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,800.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.8% higher at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than Northern State University ($12,200.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($16,873 vs. $20,243)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 17% lower than costs at Northern State University ($8,800 vs. $10,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (93% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 17.3% larger than aid received South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($5,565 vs. $4,746)
NSU vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NSU or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or NSU .
- The average SAT score at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1200) is 176 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at NSU (3.37)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (85.3%)
NSU vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NSU or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and NSU.
- The graduation rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is higher than Northern State University (48% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn on average $22,600 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $37,400)
- Northern State University students graduate with a $3,101 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($24,399 vs. $27,500)
- NSU graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($252 vs. $284)
- More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/