The average acceptance rate at BHSU over the past 10 years is 90.46%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 96.33%. The acceptance rate at BHSU is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 35.31%, and the 2025 yield is 30.10%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 32.63% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of BHSU applicants increased by 4.51% (73 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 22.02% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 96.33%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that BHSU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 30.10%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at BHSU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, BHSU received approximately 1,690 applications, admitted 1,628 students, and enrolled 490 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that BHSU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
BHSU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at BHSU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 90.46%, while the most recent rate stands at 96.33%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 96.33%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 90.06% and for women is 90.76%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at BHSU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 84.04% | 84.38% | 83.79% |
| 2016-17 | 79.76% -4.28% |
78.70% -5.68% |
80.42% -3.37% |
| 2017-18 | 86.95% 7.18% |
85.74% 7.04% |
87.68% 7.26% |
| 2018-19 | 88.32% 1.37% |
87.64% 1.90% |
88.76% 1.08% |
| 2019-20 | 83.94% -4.38% |
79.71% -7.93% |
86.28% -2.48% |
| 2020-21 | 97.14% 13.20% |
97.79% 18.08% |
96.83% 10.55% |
| 2021-22 | 97.03% -0.11% |
97.97% 0.18% |
97.02% 0.19% |
| 2022-23 | 96.64% -0.39% |
96.80% -1.17% |
96.57% -0.45% |
| 2023-24 | 94.43% -2.21% |
95.06% -1.74% |
94.13% -2.44% |
| 2024-25 | 96.33% 1.90% |
96.85% 1.79% |
96.09% 1.95% |
| Average | 90.46% | 90.06% | 90.76% |
BHSU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 44.67% in 2015 to 30.10% in 2025, representing a 32.63% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 35.31%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at BHSU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 32.63% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 44.67% | 44.27% | 44.98% |
| 2016-17 | 43.89% -0.78% |
41.12% -3.15% |
45.57% 0.59% |
| 2017-18 | 37.70% -6.19% |
35.65% -5.47% |
38.92% -6.65% |
| 2018-19 | 29.80% -7.90% |
26.18% -9.47% |
32.10% -6.82% |
| 2019-20 | 29.16% -0.64% |
28.26% 2.09% |
29.61% -2.49% |
| 2020-21 | 40.20% 11.05% |
38.70% 10.44% |
40.93% 11.32% |
| 2021-22 | 34.00% -6.20% |
37.10% -1.60% |
31.94% -8.98% |
| 2022-23 | 31.52% -2.48% |
32.44% -4.66% |
31.09% -0.85% |
| 2023-24 | 32.02% 0.50% |
34.00% 1.56% |
31.06% -0.03% |
| 2024-25 | 30.10% -1.93% |
29.45% -4.55% |
30.41% -0.65% |
| Average | 35.31% | 34.72% | 35.66% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 1,606, the average number of admitted is 1,446, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 500.
The number of BHSU applicants increased by 4.51% (73 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 22.02% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Black Hills State University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 1,385 | 1,164 | 520 |
| 2016-17 | 1,611 16.32% |
1,285 10.40% |
564 8.46% |
| 2017-18 | 1,693 5.09% |
1,472 14.55% |
555 -1.60% |
| 2018-19 | 1,858 9.75% |
1,641 11.48% |
489 -11.89% |
| 2019-20 | 2,129 14.59% |
1,787 8.90% |
521 6.54% |
| 2020-21 | 1,119 -47.44% |
1,087 -39.17% |
437 -16.12% |
| 2021-22 | 1,382 23.50% |
1,341 23.37% |
456 4.35% |
| 2022-23 | 1,579 14.25% |
1,526 13.80% |
481 5.48% |
| 2023-24 | 1,617 2.41% |
1,527 0.07% |
489 1.66% |
| 2024-25 | 1,690 4.51% |
1,628 6.61% |
490 0.20% |
| Average | 1,606 | 1,446 | 500 |
The following table compares Black Hills State University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hills State University | 94.43% | 96.33% | 2.01% |
| South Dakota State University | 98.34% | 98.71% | -0.37% |
| University of South Dakota | 98.78% | 98.95% | -0.17% |
| Dakota State University | 88.05% | 97.87% | -10.03% |
| Northern State University | 93.00% | 92.79% | 0.23% |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 79.87% | 85.25% | -6.31% |
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