Black Hills State University (BHSU) vs South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Black Hills State University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, both esteemed institutions in South Dakota, offer distinct educational experiences. Black Hills State, nestled in the scenic Black Hills, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. In contrast, South Dakota School of Mines, located in the vibrant city of Rapid City, maintains a more selective admissions process. While Black Hills State excels in liberal arts and education programs, South Dakota School of Mines shines in engineering and technology fields. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional program offerings, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Black Hills State University logo

Black Hills State University

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology logo

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Overview

Location Spearfish, South Dakota Rapid City, South Dakota
Campus setting Town: Distant City: Small
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 61.0% 70.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.3% 80.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 970 - 1150 1155 - 1355
ACT range 18 - 23 24 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 6.0% 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 79.0% 84.0%
Total number of applicants 1,382 1,445
Total number of admissions given out 1,344 1,163
Admitted students who chose to enroll 452 489
Yield rate 33.6% 42.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,100

Out of state: $25,200
In state: $29,330

Out of state: $33,750
Average net price $15,895 $19,257
Tuition
In state: $7,700

Out of state: $10,800
In state: $7,820

Out of state: $12,240
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,680

Meal plan: $3,622
Room/dormitory: $4,060

Meal plan: $4,080
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

89.0%
Average amount $4,736
83.0%
Average amount $5,895
Students receiving federal student loan 58.0%
Average amount $4,966
52.0%
Average amount $4,907
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $9,709
13.0%
Average amount $12,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,346
Men 36.8% Women 63.2%
2,083
Men 76.4% Women 23.6%
Graduate students 193
Men 34.2% Women 65.8%
333
Men 76.3% Women 23.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 63.0%
International students 1.5% 5.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant City: Small
Dormitory capacity 811 1,082
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A South Dakota Colorado Minnesota Nebraska Wyoming

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Psychology
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Physical Science
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 42.5% 52.3%
Dropout rate 55.3% 35.2%
Transferred out N/A 7.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $75,822
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,634
  • Year 2: $67,789
  • Year 3: $71,638
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,408
  • Year 2: $60,523
  • Year 3: $64,746
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,674
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: N/A
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,157
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: N/A
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,319
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,327
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: N/A
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,985
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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