Minnesota vs. Dakota State

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

 Minnesota Dakota State
Location Minneapolis, MN Madison, SD
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 54,890 3,508
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #150 #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umn.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Minnesota Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $14,496 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $34,410 $10,718
Room & Board $13,028 $8,990
Avg Net Price $16,730 $19,115
Avg Grant Aid $11,807 $5,263
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 87%

Admission

 Minnesota Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 39,863 988
Admitted 30,705 967
Acceptance Rate 77% 97.9%
Enrolled % 21.9% 40.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/31 20/26
SAT Range 1310/1480 1020/1340
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 1, 2025

Academics

 Minnesota Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 Minnesota Dakota State
Graduation Rate 70% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,200 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,185 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $208 $242

Diversity

 Minnesota Dakota State
% Men 12% 12%
% Women 16% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 84%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Minnesota Dakota State
% In-State 66% 56%
% Out-of-State 26% 38%

Campus

 Minnesota Dakota State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (54,890 students vs. 3,508 students)

Minnesota vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota or Dakota State?

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 90.3% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($14,496.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 221% higher at Minnesota than Dakota State University ($34,410.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than Dakota State ($16,730 vs. $19,115)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 44.9% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($8,990 vs. $13,028)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (87% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 124.3% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($11,807 vs. $5,263)

Minnesota vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1288) is 241 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming Minnesota students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Minnesota students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Minnesota (77%)

Minnesota vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Minnesota or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and Minnesota.

  • The graduation rate at Minnesota is higher than Dakota State University (70% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from University of Minnesota Twin Cities earn on average $16,000 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $42,200)
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities students graduate with a $3,315 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($20,185 vs. $23,500)
  • Minnesota graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($208 vs. $242)
  • More Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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