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Spearfish, SD · Madison, SD
| Black Hills State University | Dakota State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,911/yr | $21,057/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,863/yr | $17,317/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $23,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,379/yr | $18,792/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,588/yr | $19,165/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,072/yr | $22,601/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,604/yr | $23,269/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $249/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,160/yr | $9,742/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,018/yr | $10,599/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,092/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,674/yr | $6,377/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $21,277/yr | $25,753/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,764/yr | $9,654/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $11,866/yr | $12,756/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 20% | 17% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 34% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 96% | 88% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 965–1135 | 1190–1440 |
| SAT average | 1087 | 1215 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–24 | 20–27 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–23 · Math 16–24 | English 18–25 · Math 19–27 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,617 | 988 |
| Students accepted | 1,527 | 967 |
| Students who enrolled | 489 | 394 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 32% | 41% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 73% | 78% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Required | Required |
| College-prep program | Required | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Not considered | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 43% | 51% |
| Freshmen who come back | 72% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $46,674/yr | $50,970/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,912–$63,502 | $36,497–$69,547 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 43% | 47% |
| White students graduating | 43% | 55% |
| Black students graduating | 50% | 10% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 30% | 28% |
| Asian students graduating | 75% | 71% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $38,927/yr | $46,146/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 66% | 72% |
| Graduate on time | 29% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 38% | 44% |
| First-gen students who finish | 30% | 32% |
| Low-income students who finish | 28% | 28% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,393/yr | $46,966/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 15% · Education 11% | Computer & Information Sciences 58% · Education 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 58% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 15% of degrees | Education — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 11% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 9% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 7% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 3% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods — $54,120/yr | Computer and Information Sciences, General — $83,446/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 62% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,928 | 2,071 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 148 | 708 |
| Average professor pay | $8,430/mo | $9,954/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 75% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $51,046 | $50,856 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Spearfish, SD | Madison, SD |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1883 | 1881 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.5% | 6.4% |
| Men | 34% | 64% |
| Women | 66% | 36% |
| White students | 67% | 74% |
| Black students | 1.5% | 3.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.2% | 4.5% |
| Asian students | 0.6% | 2.6% |
| Two or more races | 1.8% | 3.7% |
| Other / not reported | 22% | 4.7% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 28% | 28% |
| Part-time students | 19% | 23% |
| Students age 25+ | 11% | 19% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $6,388/yr | $8,768/yr |
| Endowment | $23.9M | $20.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 836 | 895 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $3,926/yr | $4,520/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,630/yr | $4,108/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 373 | 433 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.7M | $1.0M |
| Athletics budget | $6.9M | $4.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.9M | $4.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $123,513 | $0 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.