University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) vs South Dakota State University (SDSU)

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and South Dakota State University (SDSU) stand as two prominent institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with valuable insights to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you're drawn to UNL's vibrant college town atmosphere or SDSU's focus on agricultural sciences, this comprehensive analysis will guide you towards the university that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
South Dakota State University logo

South Dakota State University

University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Overview

Location Brookings, South Dakota Lincoln, Nebraska
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Large
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 80.0% 80.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% 81.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $50
SAT range 980 - 1220 1090 - 1320
ACT range 19 - 25 22 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 8.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 85.0%
Total number of applicants 5,774 17,775
Total number of admissions given out 5,048 14,411
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,019 4,736
Yield rate 40.0% 32.9%
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) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,304

Out of state: $27,814
In state: $26,316

Out of state: $43,446
Average net price $17,859 $18,403
Tuition
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
In state: $7,770

Out of state: $24,900
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,054

Meal plan: $4,082
Room/dormitory: $7,485

Meal plan: $4,653
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $4,747
96.0%
Average amount $8,608
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,063
34.0%
Average amount $4,691
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $9,956
5.0%
Average amount $13,909

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
19,552
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
Graduate students 1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
4,879
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 25.7%
International students 5.1% 7.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,488 6,936
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Nebraska Illinois Minnesota Kansas Iowa

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.5% 66.4%
Dropout rate 38.9% 10.7%
Transferred out N/A 21.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,688
  • Year 2: $117,014
  • Year 3: $126,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $114,802
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,967
  • Year 2: $74,845
  • Year 3: $81,032
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,229
  • Year 2: $61,322
  • Year 3: $70,114
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,268
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $62,932
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,985
  • Year 2: $56,234
  • Year 3: $61,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,372
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $60,463
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,551
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $59,988
Plant Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,213
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $55,715
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $54,439
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,695
  • Year 2: $91,017
  • Year 3: $102,607
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,888
  • Year 2: $78,134
  • Year 3: $86,893
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,533
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $86,584
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,494
  • Year 2: $68,918
  • Year 3: $78,265
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,969
  • Year 2: $70,680
  • Year 3: $75,873
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,040
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $74,823
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $72,325
  • Year 3: $73,798
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,124
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $73,111
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,572
  • Year 2: $66,168
  • Year 3: $72,183
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,299
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $71,063

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