US CollegesGetting in
Dakota State University admits 88% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1215 out of 1600 (midpoints: 570 in reading and writing, 553 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 23 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from South Dakota | $9,938 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $13,130 |
| Room and meals on campus | $9,362 |
| Books and supplies | $800 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $26,671 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $20,554 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 6% above the median net price of colleges in South Dakota on this site ($19,307). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $16,949 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,960 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,580 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $21,322 |
| Above $110,000 | $22,989 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | SD median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 75% | 75% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 49% | 56% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $53,378 | $51,637 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $21,730 | $21,802 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in South Dakota and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
20% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 32% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 36% women and 64% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 4 of the 20 colleges in South Dakota on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,158.
Other colleges in South Dakota of a similar size
- South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, public
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, private nonprofit
- Black Hills State UniversitySpearfish, public
- Northern State UniversityAberdeen, public
- University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, private nonprofit
- National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, private for-profit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Dakota State University?
Dakota State University admits 88% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Dakota State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,938 a year for students from South Dakota and $13,130 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Dakota State University?
49% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.