University of Dubuque vs. South Dakota State University

Deciding between University of Dubuque and South Dakota State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Dubuque
South Dakota State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA
  • South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
  • Setting
  • University of Dubuque Small City
  • South Dakota State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Dubuque 1,757
  • South Dakota State University 12,056
  • Type
  • University of Dubuque Private 4 Year
  • South Dakota State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Dubuque #681
  • South Dakota State University #619
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Dubuque Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • South Dakota State University -
  • Status
  • University of Dubuque Non-profit
  • South Dakota State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Dubuque
  • South Dakota State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Dubuque $42,095
  • South Dakota State University $9,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Dubuque $42,095
  • South Dakota State University $12,809
  • Room & Board
  • University of Dubuque $12,150
  • South Dakota State University $10,176
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Dubuque $26,067
  • South Dakota State University $19,932
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Dubuque $27,758
  • South Dakota State University $4,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Dubuque 100%
  • South Dakota State University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Dubuque Calculate
  • South Dakota State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Dubuque 1,486
  • South Dakota State University 7,287
  • Admitted
  • University of Dubuque 1,317
  • South Dakota State University 7,166
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Dubuque 88.6%
  • South Dakota State University 98.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Dubuque 23.3%
  • South Dakota State University 34.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Dubuque 1100
  • South Dakota State University 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Dubuque 21
  • South Dakota State University 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Dubuque 3.24
  • South Dakota State University 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Dubuque B+
  • South Dakota State University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Dubuque Easy
  • South Dakota State University Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Dubuque
  • South Dakota State University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Dubuque 18/24
  • South Dakota State University 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • University of Dubuque 980/1220
  • South Dakota State University 1060/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Dubuque Test optional
  • South Dakota State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Dubuque
  • South Dakota State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Dubuque 10:1
  • South Dakota State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Dubuque
    • Business (21%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (15%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • South Dakota State University
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Dubuque 41%
  • South Dakota State University 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Dubuque $41,800
  • South Dakota State University $47,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Dubuque 63%
  • South Dakota State University 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Dubuque $25,674
  • South Dakota State University $25,116
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Dubuque $265
  • South Dakota State University $259

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Dubuque 58%
  • South Dakota State University 44%
  • % Women
  • University of Dubuque 42%
  • South Dakota State University 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Dubuque Medium
  • South Dakota State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Dubuque No
  • South Dakota State University No
  • % White
  • University of Dubuque 63%
  • South Dakota State University 88%
  • % Asian
  • University of Dubuque 2%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Dubuque 14%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Dubuque 9%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Native American
  • University of Dubuque 0%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Dubuque 0%
  • South Dakota State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Dubuque 3%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % International
  • University of Dubuque 3%
  • South Dakota State University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Dubuque 6%
  • South Dakota State University 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Dubuque 32%
  • South Dakota State University 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Dubuque 57%
  • South Dakota State University 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Dubuque in Dubuque, IA with South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Dakota State University is larger than University of Dubuque based on total student enrollment (12,056 students vs. 1,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Dubuque is located in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting); South Dakota State University is in Brookings, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Dubuque is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. South Dakota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Dubuque 10:1; South Dakota State University 17:1.

University of Dubuque vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Dubuque or South Dakota State University? 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 State University than University of Dubuque ($19,932 vs. $26,067).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota State University are 16.2% lower than at University of Dubuque ($10,176 vs. $12,150).
  • University of Dubuque is 352.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Dakota State University (about $32,796 more per year; $42,095.00 vs. $9,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 228.6% higher at University of Dubuque than at South Dakota State University (about $29,286 more per year; $42,095.00 vs. $12,809.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Dubuque than at South Dakota State University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dubuque students is 520.4% larger than aid received by South Dakota State University students ($27,758 vs. $4,474).

University of Dubuque vs. South Dakota State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Dubuque or South Dakota State University? 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 State University and University of Dubuque.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at South Dakota State University (1150) is 50 points higher than at University of Dubuque (1100).
  • Incoming South Dakota State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at University of Dubuque).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Dubuque 980/1220; South Dakota State University 1060/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Dubuque 18/24; South Dakota State University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Dubuque - Test optional; South Dakota State University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman South Dakota State University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at University of Dubuque (3.24).
  • South Dakota State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.3%) than University of Dubuque (88.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.3% at University of Dubuque vs. 34.1% at South Dakota State University.

University of Dubuque vs. South Dakota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Dubuque and South Dakota State University? 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).

  • South Dakota State University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than University of Dubuque's (41%).
  • Graduates from South Dakota State University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than University of Dubuque graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,700 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, South Dakota State University graduates have a $558 lower median loan debt than University of Dubuque graduates ($25,116 vs. $25,674).
  • Among borrowers, South Dakota State University graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Dubuque graduates ($259 vs. $265).
  • More South Dakota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Dubuque students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

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.