CU Boulder vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Location Boulder, CO Rapid City, SD
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 39,585 2,492
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #362
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu sdsmt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $7,820
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $12,240
Room & Board $16,146 $8,020
Avg Net Price $21,836 $21,124
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $5,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 90%

Admission

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 1,514
Admitted 43,416 1,252
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 82.7%
Enrolled % 16.4% 43%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 23/29
SAT Range 1160/1390 1160/1378
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 Jan 15, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Engineering (76%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduation Rate 68% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $284

Diversity

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% Men 55% 76%
% Women 45% 24%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 84%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

CU Boulder South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% In-State 53% 37%
% Out-of-State 45% 62%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 2,492 students)

CU Boulder vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

  • University of Colorado Boulder is 47.3% more expensive to attend than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $7,820.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 216.7% higher at CU Boulder than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($38,770.00 vs. $12,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than CU Boulder ($21,124 vs. $21,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 101.3% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($8,020 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than University of Colorado Boulder (90% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 92.9% larger than aid received South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($10,477 vs. $5,431)

CU Boulder vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 12 points higher than at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1200)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (27)
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (3.57)
  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a higher acceptance rate (82.7%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

CU Boulder vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 School of Mines and Technology and CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (68% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn on average $3,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $56,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,500)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates. ($201 vs. $284)
  • More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 73%)

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