Black Hills State University (BHSU) vs Adams State

Black Hills State University and Adams State University, both located in picturesque mountain regions, offer distinct educational experiences. Black Hills State, nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. Adams State, situated in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, stands out with its lower student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a more personalized learning environment. While Black Hills State excels in fields like business and education, Adams State shines in areas such as social sciences and psychology. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Adams State University logo

Adams State University

Black Hills State University logo

Black Hills State University

Overview

Location Alamosa, Colorado Spearfish, South Dakota
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 59.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 99.8% 97.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 920 - 1140 970 - 1150
ACT range 18 - 23 18 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 25.0% 6.0%
Students submitting ACT score 10.0% 79.0%
Total number of applicants 1,717 1,382
Total number of admissions given out 1,714 1,344
Admitted students who chose to enroll 318 452
Yield rate 18.6% 33.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,474

Out of state: $34,727
In state: $22,100

Out of state: $25,200
Average net price $14,492 $15,895
Tuition
In state: $5,976

Out of state: $14,229
In state: $7,700

Out of state: $10,800
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,967

Meal plan: $5,200
Room/dormitory: $3,680

Meal plan: $3,622
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

94.0%
Average amount $9,130
89.0%
Average amount $4,736
Students receiving federal student loan 69.0%
Average amount $5,315
58.0%
Average amount $4,966
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $11,675
11.0%
Average amount $9,709

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,835
Men 52.8% Women 47.2%
3,346
Men 36.8% Women 63.2%
Graduate students 1,303
Men 29.1% Women 70.9%
193
Men 34.2% Women 65.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students 42.2% N/A
International students 0.7% 1.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 1,200 811
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado New Mexico California Arizona Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Psychology
  • History
  • Business
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Psychology
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 28.7% 42.5%
Dropout rate 49.8% 55.3%
Transferred out 17.9% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,245
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $63,845
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,727
  • Year 2: $44,126
  • Year 3: $47,513
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,360
  • Year 2: $44,861
  • Year 3: $46,910
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,088
  • Year 2: $34,603
  • Year 3: $39,930
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,120
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $33,756
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,377
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: $32,724
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,667
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,806
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,414
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,943
  • Year 2: $40,768
  • Year 3: $42,268
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,857
  • Year 2: $40,768
  • Year 3: $40,091
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,787
  • Year 2: $41,725
  • Year 3: $40,061
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,708
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $39,098
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,641
  • Year 2: $36,914
  • Year 3: $38,083
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,611
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $35,921
Community Organization and Advocacy (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,934
  • Year 2: $33,138
  • Year 3: $32,359
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,162
  • Year 2: $27,295
  • Year 3: $25,186
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,294
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,515
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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