Black Hills State University (BHSU)
Public four-year university in Spearfish, SD that costs an average of $19,252 a year after financial aid, admits 96% of applicants and graduates 42% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$19,252
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
42%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$49,283
PublicTown (distant)1,928 undergraduates
Cost of BHSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $25,744 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,014 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $12,206 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $11,024 |
| Books and supplies | $958 |
| Average net price after aid | $19,252 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $16,385 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $15,530 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $17,710 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $21,151 |
| $110,001+ | $23,029 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with BHSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 96% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,087 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 465–565 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 500–570 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 18–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 42% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 72% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $42,901 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $49,283 |
| Rank in South Dakota (earnings) | 10th of 11 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,822 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $225 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 24% |
| Students with federal loans | 29% |
Majors and programs at BHSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (36)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 137 | $50,896 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 23 | $48,497 | — |
| Biology | 45 | $46,656 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 78 | $44,894 | $23,375 |
| History | 21 | $43,330 | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 41 | $39,413 | $29,288 |
| Psychology | 50 | $35,151 | $24,196 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 13 | $33,233 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 51 | $32,477 | $19,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 14 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 9 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 17 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 25 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 17 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 13 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 24 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 17 | — | — |
| Music | 7 | — | — |
| Outdoor Education | 13 | — | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | — | — | — |
| Physical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | 10 | — | — |
| Physics | 1 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 13 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 3 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Sociology | 18 | — | $25,393 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 13 | — | — |
Certificate programs (17)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 6 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 18 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 5 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 5 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 6 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 6 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | 3 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Outdoor Education | 2 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 3 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Sociology | 17 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (7)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 40 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 4 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 6 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 35 | — | — |
| Teaching Assistants/Aides | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 27 | $49,378 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 13 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 14 | — | — |
| Genetics | 8 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 15 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 4 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 20 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Dakota
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls | $23,283 | 68% | $61,271 |
| Dakota State University | Madison | $20,554 | 88% | $53,378 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City | $20,827 | 80% | $78,487 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen | $15,279 | 93% | $51,006 |
| University of Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | $21,417 | 83% | $59,404 |
| National American University-Rapid City | Rapid City | $31,654 | — | $38,663 |
| Mount Marty University | Yankton | $21,395 | 43% | $52,585 |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion | $20,028 | 99% | $58,316 |
About BHSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Spearfish, SD |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 1,928 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 17 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | bhsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is BHSU's acceptance rate?
Black Hills State University admits 96% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,087 on the SAT.
How much does BHSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $25,744 a year (tuition and fees: $9,014 in-state, $12,206 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $19,252 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $16,385.
How much do BHSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $49,283 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 10th of 11 similar colleges in South Dakota. The best-paid bachelor's program is business administration, management and operations ($50,896 a year after graduation).
What is BHSU's graduation rate?
42% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 72% of first-year students return for a second year.