University of Northern Colorado vs. South Dakota State University

Deciding between University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado
South Dakota State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
  • South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
  • Setting
  • University of Northern Colorado Small City
  • South Dakota State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Northern Colorado 8,869
  • South Dakota State University 12,056
  • Type
  • University of Northern Colorado Public 4 Year
  • South Dakota State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Northern Colorado #680
  • South Dakota State University #619
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Northern Colorado -
  • South Dakota State University -
  • Status
  • University of Northern Colorado Non-profit
  • South Dakota State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • South Dakota State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $12,416
  • South Dakota State University $9,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Northern Colorado $27,266
  • South Dakota State University $12,809
  • Room & Board
  • University of Northern Colorado $16,154
  • South Dakota State University $10,176
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Northern Colorado $19,376
  • South Dakota State University $19,932
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado $9,992
  • South Dakota State University $4,474
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Northern Colorado 95%
  • South Dakota State University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Northern Colorado Calculate
  • South Dakota State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Northern Colorado 11,127
  • South Dakota State University 7,287
  • Admitted
  • University of Northern Colorado 9,553
  • South Dakota State University 7,166
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 85.9%
  • South Dakota State University 98.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Northern Colorado 13%
  • South Dakota State University 34.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 1070
  • South Dakota State University 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Northern Colorado 23
  • South Dakota State University 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Northern Colorado 3.53
  • South Dakota State University 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Northern Colorado A-
  • South Dakota State University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Northern Colorado Easy
  • South Dakota State University Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • South Dakota State University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 21/26
  • South Dakota State University 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • University of Northern Colorado 950/1190
  • South Dakota State University 1060/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Northern Colorado Test optional
  • South Dakota State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027
  • South Dakota State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Northern Colorado 14:1
  • South Dakota State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Northern Colorado
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • South Dakota State University
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Northern Colorado 46%
  • South Dakota State University 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Northern Colorado $44,600
  • South Dakota State University $47,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Northern Colorado 62%
  • South Dakota State University 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Northern Colorado $21,970
  • South Dakota State University $25,116
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Northern Colorado $227
  • South Dakota State University $259

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Northern Colorado 32%
  • South Dakota State University 44%
  • % Women
  • University of Northern Colorado 68%
  • South Dakota State University 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Northern Colorado Medium
  • South Dakota State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • South Dakota State University No
  • % White
  • University of Northern Colorado 56%
  • South Dakota State University 88%
  • % Asian
  • University of Northern Colorado 2%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Northern Colorado 18%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % Native American
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • South Dakota State University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • South Dakota State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • South Dakota State University 2%
  • % International
  • University of Northern Colorado 1%
  • South Dakota State University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Northern Colorado 15%
  • South Dakota State University 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 86%
  • South Dakota State University 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Northern Colorado 12%
  • South Dakota State University 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO 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 Northern Colorado based on total student enrollment (12,056 students vs. 8,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, CO (Small City setting); South Dakota State University is in Brookings, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado 14:1; South Dakota State University 17:1.

University of Northern Colorado vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado than South Dakota State University ($19,376 vs. $19,932).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota State University are 37% lower than at University of Northern Colorado ($10,176 vs. $16,154).
  • University of Northern Colorado is 33.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Dakota State University (about $3,117 more per year; $12,416.00 vs. $9,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 112.9% higher at University of Northern Colorado than at South Dakota State University (about $14,457 more per year; $27,266.00 vs. $12,809.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Northern Colorado than at South Dakota State University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Colorado students is 123.3% larger than aid received by South Dakota State University students ($9,992 vs. $4,474).

University of Northern Colorado vs. South Dakota State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at South Dakota State University (1150) is 80 points higher than at University of Northern Colorado (1070).
  • Incoming University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado 950/1190; South Dakota State University 1060/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Colorado 21/26; South Dakota State University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Northern Colorado - Test optional; South Dakota State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Northern Colorado students have the same average high school GPA (3.53) as students at South Dakota State University (3.53).
  • South Dakota State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.3%) than University of Northern Colorado (85.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at University of Northern Colorado vs. 34.1% at South Dakota State University.

University of Northern Colorado vs. South Dakota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado's (46%).
  • Graduates from South Dakota State University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than University of Northern Colorado graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,700 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Colorado graduates have a $3,146 lower median loan debt than South Dakota State University graduates ($21,970 vs. $25,116).
  • Among borrowers, University of Northern Colorado graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Dakota State University graduates ($227 vs. $259).
  • More South Dakota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Northern Colorado students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 62%)

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.