ACCEPTANCE RATE
94.4%
More selective than 90% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Public University
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, is a public four-year institution offering more than 70 academic programs. With an acceptance rate of 94.4% and test-optional admissions, BHSU prepares students for real-world success.
Spearfish, SDTown: Distant
94.4%ACCEPTANCE
$16,474AVG NET PRICE
40%GRAD RATE
3,475STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Black Hills State University Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Black Hills State University is a public four-year college located in Spearfish, South Dakota. The institution offers more than 70 academic programs designed to prepare students for real-world success from day one. Each student, known as a Yellow Jacket, has the flexibility to explore their interests and forge a path they are passionate about within this supportive environment.
The campus character is defined by a strong sense of community and tradition. Students find their path while forming lasting connections right here in the Black Hills region. The university hosts annual celebrations like Swarm Days and recognizes faculty excellence, fostering an atmosphere where every student has a story to tell.
AT A GLANCE
TypePublicFour or more years
SettingTown: Distant
Calendarsemester
GETTING IN
Admissions
Black Hills State University operates as a wholly test-optional institution where standardized test scores are not required for admission if other academic requirements are met. Applicants must complete specific high school courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and satisfy one or more additional criteria, such as a cumulative GPA of 2.6, an ACT composite of 18, or ranking in the top 60% of their high school class.
Source: IPEDS 2023
APPLICATION FEE
Undergraduate application fee $20.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$8,916/yr
Out-of-state: $12,018/yr. South Dakota residents pay roughly 26% less.
Net price by income band
$0–$30,000
$30,001–$48,000
$48,001–$75,000
$75,001–$110,000
$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$16,474/yr
▲ 4% since 2020-2139% receive aid
Average aid package $6,041.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
The university offers more than 70 academic programs to choose from, providing students with significant flexibility to explore diverse interests. These degrees are specifically designed to prepare graduates for real-world success immediately upon entering the workforce.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
17:1
6-year graduation rate
40%
▲ 1 pts since 2016
First-year retention
72%
Compared with the 89% public-university median.
Undergrad majors
54
Undergraduate majors and programs
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Business Administration and Management, General.22.2%
Elementary Education and Teaching.10.3%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.7.3%
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.7%
Community Organization and Advocacy.5.7%
Psychology, General.5.4%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Campus housing shows how many students live on-campus — which means nearby housing can be essential to the college experience.
On-campus beds
836
Setting
Town: Distant
IN CONTEXT
Black Hills State University vs. peer institutions
How Black Hills State University compares with officially identified or editorially reviewed peer institutions.
Black Hills State University
$16,474
Adams State University
$13,800
Dickinson State University
$15,490
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
What graduates earn and how reliably they land work — the bottom-line return on the degree.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$46,674
Working after 10 yrs
89.2%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
74%
74% of students out-earn the typical high-school graduate — a core measure of mobility.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with Black Hills State University.