St. Cloud State University vs. Dakota State

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

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
Location Saint Cloud, MN Madison, SD
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 10,420 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $10,718
Room & Board $9,950 $8,018
Avg Net Price $14,065 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 92%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 882
Admitted 4,583 696
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 78.9%
Enrolled % 16.8% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/27
SAT Range 1027/1200 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 15, 2025

Academics

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
Graduation Rate 48% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $242

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
% Men 43% 64%
% Women 57% 36%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 84%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 St. Cloud State University Dakota State
% In-State 75% 58%
% Out-of-State 11% 39%

Campus

 St. Cloud State University 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

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 3,241 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or Dakota State?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 15.7% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.4% higher at St. Cloud State University than Dakota State University ($18,695.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Dakota State ($14,065 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 24.1% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($8,018 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Dakota State University (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 10.5% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($6,042 vs. $5,467)

St. Cloud State University vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Dakota State University (1047) is 17 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming Dakota State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

St. Cloud State University vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Dakota State University (48% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $42,200)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,500)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($232 vs. $242)
  • More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 67%)

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