University of North Dakota vs. South Dakota State University

Deciding between University of North Dakota 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 North Dakota
South Dakota State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
  • South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
  • Setting
  • University of North Dakota Small City
  • South Dakota State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of North Dakota 15,019
  • South Dakota State University 12,056
  • Type
  • University of North Dakota Public 4 Year
  • South Dakota State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of North Dakota #383
  • South Dakota State University #619
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of North Dakota -
  • South Dakota State University -
  • Status
  • University of North Dakota Non-profit
  • South Dakota State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of North Dakota
  • South Dakota State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of North Dakota $10,951
  • South Dakota State University $9,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of North Dakota $15,570
  • South Dakota State University $12,809
  • Room & Board
  • University of North Dakota $11,390
  • South Dakota State University $10,176
  • Average Net Price
  • University of North Dakota $18,076
  • South Dakota State University $19,932
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of North Dakota $6,663
  • South Dakota State University $4,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of North Dakota 86%
  • South Dakota State University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of North Dakota Calculate
  • South Dakota State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of North Dakota 8,261
  • South Dakota State University 7,287
  • Admitted
  • University of North Dakota 6,353
  • South Dakota State University 7,166
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of North Dakota 76.9%
  • South Dakota State University 98.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of North Dakota 34.7%
  • South Dakota State University 34.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of North Dakota 1200
  • South Dakota State University 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of North Dakota 23
  • South Dakota State University 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of North Dakota 3.5
  • South Dakota State University 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of North Dakota A-
  • South Dakota State University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of North Dakota Average
  • South Dakota State University Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of North Dakota
  • South Dakota State University
  • ACT Range
  • University of North Dakota 20/26
  • South Dakota State University 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • University of North Dakota 1110/1290
  • South Dakota State University 1060/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of North Dakota Test-free
  • South Dakota State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of North Dakota Aug 17, 2027
  • South Dakota State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of North Dakota 17:1
  • South Dakota State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of North Dakota
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (14%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • South Dakota State University
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of North Dakota 54%
  • South Dakota State University 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of North Dakota $54,700
  • South Dakota State University $47,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of North Dakota 76%
  • South Dakota State University 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of North Dakota $24,500
  • South Dakota State University $25,116
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of North Dakota $253
  • South Dakota State University $259

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of North Dakota 51%
  • South Dakota State University 44%
  • % Women
  • University of North Dakota 49%
  • South Dakota State University 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of North Dakota Very Low
  • South Dakota State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • University of North Dakota No
  • South Dakota State University No
  • % White
  • University of North Dakota 83%
  • South Dakota State University 88%
  • % Asian
  • University of North Dakota 2%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of North Dakota 2%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of North Dakota 3%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Native American
  • University of North Dakota 1%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of North Dakota 0%
  • South Dakota State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of North Dakota 3%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % International
  • University of North Dakota 4%
  • South Dakota State University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of North Dakota 2%
  • South Dakota State University 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of North Dakota 38%
  • South Dakota State University 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of North Dakota 59%
  • South Dakota State University 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Dakota is larger than South Dakota State University based on total student enrollment (15,019 students vs. 12,056 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of North Dakota vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of North Dakota 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 University of North Dakota than South Dakota State University ($18,076 vs. $19,932).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota State University are 10.7% lower than at University of North Dakota ($10,176 vs. $11,390).
  • University of North Dakota is 17.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Dakota State University (about $1,652 more per year; $10,951.00 vs. $9,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at University of North Dakota than at South Dakota State University (about $2,761 more per year; $15,570.00 vs. $12,809.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Dakota State University than at University of North Dakota (94% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Dakota students is 48.9% larger than aid received by South Dakota State University students ($6,663 vs. $4,474).

University of North Dakota vs. South Dakota State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of North Dakota 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 North Dakota.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Dakota (1200) is 50 points higher than at South Dakota State University (1150).
  • Incoming University of North Dakota students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at South Dakota State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Dakota 1110/1290; South Dakota State University 1060/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Dakota 20/26; South Dakota State University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of North Dakota - Test-free; South Dakota State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of North Dakota Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman South Dakota State University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at University of North Dakota (3.5).
  • South Dakota State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.3%) than University of North Dakota (76.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.7% at University of North Dakota vs. 34.1% at South Dakota State University.

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

How do outcomes compare for University of North Dakota 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 North Dakota's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of North Dakota earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than South Dakota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,700 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Dakota graduates have a $616 lower median loan debt than South Dakota State University graduates ($24,500 vs. $25,116).
  • Among borrowers, University of North Dakota graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Dakota State University graduates ($253 vs. $259).
  • More South Dakota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of North Dakota students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

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.