Rockhurst vs. USD

Should I go to Rockhurst University or University of South Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rockhurst or USD 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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South Dakota State University University of Missouri-Kansas City University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana Creighton University Truman State Saint Louis University-Main Campus Drury University William Jewell College Augustana University
Rockhurst University vs. University of South Dakota comparison
Rockhurst University University of South Dakota College 3 College 4
Rockhurst University University of South Dakota
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Overview

 Rockhurst USD
Location Kansas City, MO Vermillion, SD
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,405 9,856
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #285 #597
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rockhurst.edu usd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rockhurst USD
Tuition (In State) $40,700 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $40,700 $11,283
Room & Board $10,280 $8,224
Avg Net Price $22,994 $18,378
Avg Grant Aid $32,842 $6,308
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 79%

Admission

 Rockhurst USD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,154 4,480
Admitted 2,096 4,456
Acceptance Rate 66.5% 99.5%
Enrolled % 13.7% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 19/25
SAT Range 1083/1288 1020/1300
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 Rockhurst USD
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (31%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Health Professions (32%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 Rockhurst USD
Graduation Rate 74% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $48,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

 Rockhurst USD
% Men 35% 37%
% Women 65% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 85%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 8% 0%

Students

 Rockhurst USD
% In-State 58% 54%
% Out-of-State 39% 43%

Campus

 Rockhurst USD
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 South Dakota is larger than than Rockhurst based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 3,405 students)

Rockhurst vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rockhurst or USD?

  • Rockhurst University is 423.6% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($40,700.00 vs. $7,773.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 260.7% higher at Rockhurst than University of South Dakota ($40,700.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Dakota than Rockhurst ($18,378 vs. $22,994)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 25% lower than costs at Rockhurst University ($8,224 vs. $10,280)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rockhurst University than University of South Dakota (100% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockhurst University students is 420.6% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($32,842 vs. $6,308)

Rockhurst vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rockhurst University (1162) is 113 points higher than at USD (1049)
  • Incoming Rockhurst students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at USD (23)
  • Accepted freshman Rockhurst students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at USD (3.43)
  • USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Rockhurst (66.5%)

Rockhurst vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rockhurst or USD? 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 USD and Rockhurst.

  • The graduation rate at Rockhurst is higher than University of South Dakota (74% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Rockhurst University earn on average $5,300 more per year than USD graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $48,200)
  • Rockhurst University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Rockhurst graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More Rockhurst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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