The University of West Florida vs. South Dakota State University

Should I go to The University of West Florida or South Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of West Florida or South Dakota State University 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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The University of West Florida vs. South Dakota State University comparison
The University of West Florida South Dakota State University College 3 College 4
The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
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Overview

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Location Pensacola, FL Brookings, SD
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,521 11,327
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727 #600
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwf.edu sdstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Tuition (In State) $4,319 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $16,587 $11,283
Room & Board $11,268 $8,087
Avg Net Price $8,609 $18,160
Avg Grant Aid $11,515 $4,551
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 100%

Admission

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,113 6,364
Admitted 4,377 5,478
Acceptance Rate 48% 86.1%
Enrolled % 27% 40%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 19/25
SAT Range 1050/1230 1020/1245
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Agriculture (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Graduation Rate 48% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $47,700
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $25,116
Median Loan Payment $193 $259

Diversity

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
% Men 38% 44%
% Women 62% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 65% 88%
% Black 13% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
% In-State 66% 50%
% Out-of-State 11% 48%

Campus

The University of West Florida South Dakota State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than South Dakota State University based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 11,327 students)

The University of West Florida vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of West Florida or South Dakota State University?

  • South Dakota State University is 80% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($7,773.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47% higher at The University of West Florida than South Dakota State University ($16,587.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than South Dakota State University ($8,609 vs. $18,160)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota State University are 39.3% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($8,087 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Dakota State University than The University of West Florida (100% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 153% larger than aid received South Dakota State University ($11,515 vs. $4,551)

The University of West Florida vs. South Dakota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at South Dakota State University (1068) is 15 points higher than at The University of West Florida (1053)
  • Incoming The University of West Florida students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at South Dakota State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at South Dakota State University (3.53)
  • South Dakota State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

The University of West Florida vs. South Dakota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of West Florida or South Dakota State University? 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 State University and The University of West Florida.

  • The graduation rate at South Dakota State University is higher than The University of West Florida (60% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from South Dakota State University earn on average $6,500 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $41,200)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $6,366 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota State University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $25,116)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota State University graduates. ($193 vs. $259)
  • More South Dakota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of West Florida students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 55%)

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