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MSU South Dakota State University CU Boulder Colorado State Utah State University The University of Montana University of North Dakota Idaho Montana Tech of the University of Montana Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana| University of South Dakota | University of Wyoming | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
USD | UW | ||
| Location | Vermillion, SD | Laramie, WY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 9,856 | 11,100 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #597 | #331 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | usd.edu | uwyo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USD | UW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,773 | $4,800 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,283 | $19,950 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,224 | $11,610 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,378 | $12,819 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,308 | $8,942 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 79% | 94% |
Admission |
USD | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,480 | 5,797 | ||
| Admitted | 4,456 | 5,564 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 99.5% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 29.8% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.43 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1300 | 1040/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 10, 2025 |
Academics |
USD | UW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
USD | UW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,200 | $51,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $18,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $191 |
Diversity |
USD | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 7% |
Students |
USD | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 43% | 40% | ||
Campus |
USD | UW | ||
| 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 Wyoming is larger than than USD based on total student enrollment (11,100 students vs. 9,856 students)
USD vs. UW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USD or UW?
- University of South Dakota is 61.9% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($7,773.00 vs. $4,800.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.8% higher at UW than University of South Dakota ($19,950.00 vs. $11,283.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than USD ($12,819 vs. $18,378)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 41.2% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($8,224 vs. $11,610)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wyoming than University of South Dakota (94% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 41.8% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($8,942 vs. $6,308)
USD vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USD or UW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW or USD .
- The average SAT score at University of Wyoming (1122) is 73 points higher than at USD (1049)
- Incoming UW students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at USD (23)
- Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at USD (3.43)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than UW (96%)
USD vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USD or UW? 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 UW and USD.
- The graduation rate at UW is higher than University of South Dakota (53% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $3,200 more per year than USD graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $48,200)
- University of Wyoming students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($18,500 vs. $25,000)
- UW graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($191 vs. $258)
- More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/