ACCEPTANCE RATE
97.9%
More selective than 95% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Public University
Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public four-year institution in Madison, South Dakota known for technology-driven education and hands-on learning experiences. With an acceptance rate of 97.9 percent and over thirty undergraduate majors, students can shape their own path through affordable programs.
Madison, SDTown: Distant
97.9%ACCEPTANCE
$19,115AVG NET PRICE
48%GRAD RATE
3,508STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Dakota State University Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Dakota State University serves as a public four-year institution located in Madison, South Dakota. The campus emphasizes innovation and opportunity through technology-driven education that pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Students engage with expert faculty and cutting-edge facilities designed to prepare them for modern careers while choosing from affordable programs.
Academic offerings span multiple colleges including Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Systems, Education & Human Performance, and the Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences. The university highlights its strength in cybersecurity education and research, which is nationally recognized. Programs range from arts and biology to business management and health informatics, allowing students to shape their own path within thirty undergraduate majors.
Student life includes over thirty-six student clubs that foster community engagement. Financial support is available through scholarships totaling nearly one million dollars annually for new high school students meeting academic criteria. The institution reports a first-year retention rate of 75.0 percent and a placement rate of 99.2 percent for its latest graduating class, reflecting strong outcomes for graduates.
AT A GLANCE
TypePublicFour or more years
SettingTown: Distant
Calendarsemester
GETTING IN
Admissions
Dakota State University maintains an acceptance rate of 97.9 percent based on recent applicant data. The institution offers affordable programs for new high school students meeting certain academic criteria who may qualify for scholarships automatically.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
1,020–1,340
4001600
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
$9,633/yr
Out-of-state: $12,735/yr. South Dakota residents pay roughly 24% 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
$19,115/yr
▲ 9% since 2020-2144% receive aid
Average aid package $5,792.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
Academics at DSU fuse active learning, expert teaching, and innovative technology into rich experiences that will prepare students for the future. The university offers thirty undergraduate majors across colleges including Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Systems, and the Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
19:1
54% of classes have fewer than 20 students.
6-year graduation rate
48%
▲ 9 pts since 2016
First-year retention
75%
Compared with the 89% public-university median.
Undergrad majors
30
Undergraduate majors and programs
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance.25.4%
Computer and Information Sciences, General.17.5%
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager.7.7%
Computer Graphics.6.5%
Information Science/Studies.5.6%
Elementary Education and Teaching.5%
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
895
Setting
Town: Distant
IN CONTEXT
Dakota State University vs. peer institutions
How Dakota State University compares with officially identified or editorially reviewed peer institutions.
Dakota State University
$19,115
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$19,847
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
$50,970
Working after 10 yrs
92.5%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
82.4%
82.4% 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 Dakota State University.