Dakota State University (Dakota State)
Public four-year university in Madison, SD that costs an average of $20,554 a year after financial aid, admits 88% of applicants and graduates 49% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$20,554
Acceptance rate
88%
Graduation rate
49%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$53,378
PublicTown (distant)2,071 undergraduates
Cost of Dakota State
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $26,671 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,938 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $13,130 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $9,362 |
| Books and supplies | $800 |
| Average net price after aid | $20,554 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $16,949 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $14,960 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $17,580 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $21,322 |
| $110,001+ | $22,989 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Dakota State's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 88% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,215 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 570–680 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 620–760 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 20–27 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 49% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $49,326 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $53,378 |
| Rank in South Dakota (earnings) | 7th of 11 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,730 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $247 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 20% |
| Students with federal loans | 32% |
Majors and programs at Dakota State
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (21)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | 129 | $68,460 | $23,250 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 236 | $60,967 | $21,448 |
| Information Science/Studies | 34 | $59,640 | $22,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 11 | $54,179 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 53 | $44,878 | $27,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 23 | $44,365 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 37 | $41,489 | $24,946 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 64 | $34,251 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 8 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 24 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 6 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 7 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 9 | — | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 17 | — | — |
| Marketing | 8 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 21 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 1 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 27 | — | — |
| Statistics | 2 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 18 | — | — |
Certificate programs (12)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 2 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 32 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 12 | — | — |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 18 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 44 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 1 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 12 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 25 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 5 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 1 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 15 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 8 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 39 | — | $14,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 10 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 14 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 25 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 62 | $112,578 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 119 | $100,416 | $20,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 6 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 11 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 86 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 10 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 21 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 17 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 1 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 4 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in South Dakota
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City | $20,827 | 80% | $78,487 |
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls | $23,283 | 68% | $61,271 |
| Black Hills State University | Spearfish | $19,252 | 96% | $49,283 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen | $15,279 | 93% | $51,006 |
| University of Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | $21,417 | 83% | $59,404 |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion | $20,028 | 99% | $58,316 |
| National American University-Rapid City | Rapid City | $31,654 | — | $38,663 |
| Mount Marty University | Yankton | $21,395 | 43% | $52,585 |
About Dakota State
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Madison, SD |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 2,071 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 18 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | dsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Dakota State's acceptance rate?
Dakota State University admits 88% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,215 on the SAT.
How much does Dakota State cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $26,671 a year (tuition and fees: $9,938 in-state, $13,130 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $20,554 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $16,949.
How much do Dakota State graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $53,378 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 7th of 11 similar colleges in South Dakota. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer and information sciences ($68,460 a year after graduation).
What is Dakota State's graduation rate?
49% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 75% of first-year students return for a second year.