South Dakota State University (SDSU) vs Oregon State
South Dakota State University (SDSU) and Oregon State University (OSU) stand as two distinct academic institutions, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. SDSU, located in Brookings, South Dakota, is a public land-grant research university with a strong focus on agriculture, engineering, and nursing. OSU, situated in Corvallis, Oregon, is also a public land-grant research university, renowned for its programs in forestry, engineering, and marine sciences. While both universities share similarities in their academic offerings and research endeavors, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Oregon State University |
![]() South Dakota State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Corvallis, Oregon | Brookings, South Dakota |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 89.2% | 87.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
|
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
SAT range | 1120 - 1370 | 980 - 1220 |
ACT range | 21 - 28 | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | 3.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | 86.0% |
Total number of applicants | 23,188 | 5,774 |
Total number of admissions given out | 20,687 | 5,048 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,965 | 2,019 |
Yield rate | 19.2% | 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:
$29,393
Out of state:
$48,784
|
In state:
$24,304
Out of state:
$27,814
|
Average net price | $20,318 | $17,859 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,065
Out of state:
$29,456
|
In state:
$7,773
Out of state:
$11,283
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,260
Meal plan:
$4,500
|
Room/dormitory:
$4,054
Meal plan:
$4,082
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $9,156 |
81.0%
Average amount $4,747 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
28.0%
Average amount $4,944 |
60.0%
Average amount $5,063 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $18,709 |
17.0%
Average amount $9,956 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
27,564
Men 52.0% Women 48.0% |
9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8% |
Graduate students |
5,629
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | 35.8% | N/A |
International students | 7.6% | 5.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 5,055 | 4,488 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Oregon California Washington Hawaii Colorado | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 68.2% | 59.5% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 38.9% |
Transferred out | 18.9% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Manufacturing Engineering (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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