The average acceptance rate of the 9 South Dakota colleges that have competitive admission is 83.06% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 1.1%. The acceptance rate at 4 South Dakota colleges increased and the rate of 5 colleges decreased.
Mount Marty University has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 42.57%. Augustana University (67.75%) and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (79.87%) are following it in the list of Tightest South Dakota Colleges to Get In.
This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.
Mount Marty University stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Augustana University also maintained its second place in the ranking.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $19,320 and graduate tuition & fees is $16,533 for the academic year 2024-2025.
We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Yield | SAT Score | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Total Population | Graduation Rate | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | Mount Marty University Yankton, SDPrivate, 4-year | 42.57% 5.57% | 22.82% | - | $34,600 | 1,284 | 52.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 2 - | Augustana University Sioux Falls, SDPrivate, 4-year | 67.75% 8.50% | 26.13% | 1,255 | $40,160 | 2,390 | 73.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 3 1 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SDPublic, 4-year | 79.87% 5.38% | 38.08% | 1,230 | $14,900 ($10,500) | 2,576 | 53.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 4 1 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SDPrivate, 4-year | 82.89% 0.81% | 15.27% | - | $21,750 | 1,450 | 63.00% | 18 to 1 |
| 5 2 | Dakota State University Madison, SDPublic, 4-year | 88.05% 9.82% | 17.99% | 1,320 | $12,756 ($9,654) | 3,774 | 51.00% | 18 to 1 |
| 6 1 | Northern State University Aberdeen, SDPublic, 4-year | 93.00% 0.21% | 35.25% | 1,060 | $11,947 ($8,845) | 3,708 | 49.00% | 19 to 1 |
| 7 1 | Black Hills State University Spearfish, SDPublic, 4-year | 96.33% 1.90% | 30.10% | 1,060 | $12,018 ($8,916) | 3,346 | 43.00% | 17 to 1 |
| 8 - | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublic, 4-year | 98.34% 0.37% | 34.06% | 1,130 | $12,809 ($9,299) | 12,056 | 62.00% | 17 to 1 |
| 9 - | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SDPublic, 4-year | 98.78% 0.17% | 24.07% | 1,205 | $12,942 ($9,432) | 10,619 | 60.00% | 16 to 1 |
| Average | 83.06% | 27.09% | 1,180 | $19,320 ($9,441) | 4,578 | 56.22% | 16 to 1 |