South Dakota State University (SDSU) vs Indiana State
South Dakota State University (SDSU) and Indiana State University (ISU) are two public universities with distinct characteristics. SDSU, located in Brookings, South Dakota, has an acceptance rate of 88%, while ISU, situated in Terre Haute, Indiana, has an acceptance rate of 86%. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including nursing, business, and education. SDSU boasts a student body that is predominantly white (84%) and female (56%), while ISU's student body is more diverse, with a larger proportion of African American (12%) and Hispanic (10%) students. In terms of graduation rates, SDSU has a four-year graduation rate of 38%, while ISU's four-year graduation rate is slightly higher at 40%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these and other key differences between
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![]() Indiana State University |
![]() South Dakota State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Terre Haute, Indiana | Brookings, South Dakota |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
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% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.7% | 87.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$45
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Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | N/A | 980 - 1220 |
ACT range | N/A | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 86.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 12,581 | 5,774 |
Total number of admissions given out | 11,786 | 5,048 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,434 | 2,019 |
Yield rate | 12.2% | 40.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$24,804
Out of state:
$36,068
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In state:
$24,304
Out of state:
$27,814
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Average net price | $13,653 | $17,859 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,318
Out of state:
$20,582
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In state:
$7,773
Out of state:
$11,283
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,346
Meal plan:
$4,284
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Room/dormitory:
$4,054
Meal plan:
$4,082
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
94.0%
Average amount $8,657 |
81.0%
Average amount $4,747 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
59.0%
Average amount $5,979 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,063 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $11,296 |
17.0%
Average amount $9,956 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,704
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8% |
Graduate students |
1,755
Men 36.2% Women 63.8% |
1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 17.1% | N/A |
International students | 2.4% | 5.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 3,929 | 4,488 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Indiana Illinois Ohio Missouri | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 41.2% | 59.5% |
Dropout rate | 57.4% | 38.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Plant Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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