South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester

Should I go to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or University of Minnesota Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or University of Minnesota-Rochester 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 School of Mines and Technology vs. University of Minnesota Rochester comparison
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota Rochester College 3 College 4
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Overview

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Location Rapid City, SD Rochester, MN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,492 588
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #422
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sdsmt.edu umn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Tuition (In State) $7,800 $13,256
Tuition (Out of State) $12,200 $13,256
Room & Board $8,800 $12,990
Avg Net Price $20,243 $13,840
Avg Grant Aid $4,746 $13,604
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 75%

Admission

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,539 1,221
Admitted 1,312 877
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 71.8%
Enrolled % 37.8% 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 20/26
SAT Range 1130/1320 1058/1331
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 Jul 31, 2026

Academics

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (76%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Graduation Rate 48% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $20,185
Median Loan Payment $284 $208

Diversity

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
% Men 9% 1%
% Women 4% 2%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 79%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
% In-State 38% 79%
% Out-of-State 61% 17%

Campus

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology University of Minnesota-Rochester
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is larger than than University of Minnesota-Rochester based on total student enrollment (2,492 students vs. 588 students)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or University of Minnesota-Rochester?

  • University of Minnesota Rochester is 69.9% more expensive to attend than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for in-state tuition ($13,256.00 vs. $7,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.7% higher at University of Minnesota-Rochester than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($13,256.00 vs. $12,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Rochester than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($13,840 vs. $20,243)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 47.6% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Rochester ($8,800 vs. $12,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than University of Minnesota Rochester (83% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Rochester students is 186.6% larger than aid received South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($13,604 vs. $4,746)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or University of Minnesota-Rochester? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Minnesota-Rochester or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology .

  • The average SAT score at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1200) is 90 points higher than at University of Minnesota-Rochester (1110)
  • Incoming South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University of Minnesota-Rochester (24)
  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than University of Minnesota-Rochester (71.8%)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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 University of Minnesota-Rochester and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

  • Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn on average $1,800 more per year than University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $58,200)
  • University of Minnesota Rochester students graduate with a $7,315 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($20,185 vs. $27,500)
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($208 vs. $284)
  • More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Minnesota-Rochester students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 74%)

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