U of U vs South Dakota State University (SDSU)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Brookings, South Dakota, home to the University of Utah and South Dakota State University, respectively. These institutions, while sharing the common goal of providing quality education, offer distinct experiences. The University of Utah boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while South Dakota State University maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Explore their contrasting popular majors, ranging from Engineering and Business to Agriculture and Education, and discover the unique opportunities each university presents. Compare their graduation rates, indicative of their commitment to student success, and delve into the detailed comparison table to uncover further insights. Whether you seek a bustling urban setting or a charming college town, this side-by-side analysis will guide you towards the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
South Dakota State University logo

South Dakota State University

University of Utah logo

University of Utah

Overview

Location Brookings, South Dakota Salt Lake City, Utah
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Midsize
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% 87.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% 95.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $55
SAT range 980 - 1220 1180 - 1390
ACT range 19 - 25 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 54.0%
Total number of applicants 5,774 18,302
Total number of admissions given out 5,048 17,381
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,019 5,361
Yield rate 40.0% 30.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,304

Out of state: $27,814
In state: $26,579

Out of state: $46,031
Average net price $17,859 $12,972
Tuition
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
In state: $7,749

Out of state: $27,201
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,054

Meal plan: $4,082
Room/dormitory: $5,997

Meal plan: $4,665
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $4,747
86.0%
Average amount $9,431
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,063
19.0%
Average amount $7,729
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $9,956
4.0%
Average amount $19,449

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
25,826
Men 51.8% Women 48.2%
Graduate students 1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
8,638
Men 49.9% Women 50.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 39.6%
International students 5.1% 8.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 4,488 6,250
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Utah California Colorado Idaho Washington

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.5% 67.2%
Dropout rate 38.9% 25.0%
Transferred out N/A N/A
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
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,022
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $126,415
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,759
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,201
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,943
  • Year 2: $100,213
  • Year 3: $111,490
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,996
  • Year 2: $76,998
  • Year 3: $93,342
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,226
  • Year 2: $74,307
  • Year 3: $88,739
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,036
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $84,431
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,451
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $81,580
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,753
  • Year 2: $60,689
  • Year 3: $75,773
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,225
  • Year 2: $65,894
  • Year 3: $73,917
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,458
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: $72,228

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