Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) vs South Dakota University
Saint Cloud State University and the University of South Dakota, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Saint Cloud State, located in Minnesota, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. In contrast, the University of South Dakota, situated in Vermillion, has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. While Saint Cloud State excels in programs like Business, Education, and Health Professions, the University of South Dakota shines in fields such as Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors that can help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
|
![]() Saint Cloud State University |
![]() University of South Dakota |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Vermillion, South Dakota |
Campus setting | City: Small | 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 | 62.0% | 77.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 94.3% | 87.0% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
SAT range | N/A | 1050 - 1290 |
ACT range | 18 - 24 | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 80.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,228 | 4,272 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,988 | 3,717 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 837 | 1,233 |
Yield rate | 21.0% | 33.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$22,317
Out of state:
$31,157
|
In state:
$25,657
Out of state:
$29,167
|
Average net price | $13,615 | $18,974 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,839
Out of state:
$16,679
|
In state:
$7,773
Out of state:
$11,283
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,036
Meal plan:
$3,311
|
Room/dormitory:
$4,366
Meal plan:
$4,234
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
83.0%
Average amount $6,233 |
84.0%
Average amount $5,196 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
48.0%
Average amount $5,504 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,102 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $10,683 |
14.0%
Average amount $9,890 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
8,956
Men 45.7% Women 54.3% |
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1% |
Graduate students |
1,818
Men 36.9% Women 63.1% |
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 39.4% |
International students | 10.2% | 2.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,642 | 2,154 |
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 Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 47.2% | 60.1% |
Dropout rate | 16.2% | 14.2% |
Transferred out | 34.9% | 24.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.






































































































































































