St. Mary's vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (2,576 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is in Rapid City, SD (Small City setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 12:1.

St. Mary's vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than St. Mary's ($20,267 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 42.2% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($9,300 vs. $16,079).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 45.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (about $4,798 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $10,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.6% higher at St. Mary's than at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (about $16,474 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $14,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (98% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 113.7% larger than aid received by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students ($11,398 vs. $5,334).

St. Mary's vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is the same as at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1240).
• Incoming St. Mary's students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at St. Mary's (3.45).
• South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a higher acceptance rate (79.9%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 38.1% at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

St. Mary's vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's (48%).
• Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than St. Mary's graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $51,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $7,130 lower median loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates ($20,370 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates ($210 vs. $284).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.