WSU Shockers vs South Dakota University
Wichita State University and the University of South Dakota, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Wichita State, located in Kansas, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to South Dakota's 80%. With a larger student body, Wichita State offers a more diverse range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like business, engineering, and health professions. In contrast, the University of South Dakota, situated in Vermillion, has a smaller student population and excels in fields such as nursing, education, and arts and sciences. While Wichita State has a slightly higher graduation rate (58%) than South Dakota (56%), both universities provide ample opportunities for students to succeed academically and professionally. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals.
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![]() University of South Dakota |
![]() Wichita State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Vermillion, South Dakota | Wichita, Kansas |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | 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 | 77.0% | 69.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.0% | 91.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 1050 - 1290 | 983 - 1220 |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | 7.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 80.0% | 84.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,272 | 7,291 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,717 | 6,639 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,233 | 1,814 |
Yield rate | 33.2% | 27.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$25,657
Out of state:
$29,167
|
In state:
$24,209
Out of state:
$33,574
|
Average net price | $18,974 | $13,905 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,773
Out of state:
$11,283
|
In state:
$6,843
Out of state:
$16,208
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,366
Meal plan:
$4,234
|
$12,610 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
84.0%
Average amount $5,196 |
78.0%
Average amount $6,674 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $5,102 |
48.0%
Average amount $6,770 |
Students taking out private loans |
14.0%
Average amount $9,890 |
6.0%
Average amount $11,287 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1% |
12,078
Men 44.2% Women 55.8% |
Graduate students |
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8% |
3,316
Men 42.0% Women 58.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 39.4% | 22.8% |
International students | 2.7% | 16.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,154 | 1,517 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin | Kansas Texas Missouri Oklahoma Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 19:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 60.1% | 47.7% |
Dropout rate | 14.2% | 17.9% |
Transferred out | 24.5% | 29.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
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