Colorado Mesa vs Dakota State
Colorado Mesa University and Dakota State University, both offering unique educational experiences, stand apart in several aspects. Colorado Mesa, located in Grand Junction, Colorado, boasts a higher acceptance rate of 86% compared to Dakota State's 75% in Madison, South Dakota. While Dakota State excels in computer and information sciences, Colorado Mesa offers a wider range of popular majors, including business, education, and health professions. With a larger student body, Colorado Mesa fosters a diverse community, while Dakota State maintains a close-knit atmosphere. Graduation rates reveal a slight edge for Colorado Mesa, with 58% of students completing their degrees within six years, compared to Dakota State's 56%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Colorado Mesa University |
![]() Dakota State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Grand Junction, Colorado | Madison, South Dakota |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 72.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 80.2% | 85.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | 948 - 1200 | 1000 - 1245 |
ACT range | 19 - 26 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 45.0% | 11.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | 80.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,082 | 681 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,485 | 583 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,855 | 366 |
Yield rate | 28.6% | 62.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,148
Out of state:
$35,470
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In state:
$24,073
Out of state:
$27,175
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Average net price | $15,324 | $17,572 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,020
Out of state:
$21,342
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In state:
$7,616
Out of state:
$10,718
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,100
Meal plan:
$5,165
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Room/dormitory:
$4,116
Meal plan:
$3,308
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $7,228 |
79.0%
Average amount $4,645 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
42.0%
Average amount $4,950 |
58.0%
Average amount $4,987 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $12,590 |
11.0%
Average amount $9,288 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,712
Men 45.9% Women 54.1% |
2,751
Men 60.9% Women 39.1% |
Graduate students |
195
Men 34.9% Women 65.1% |
468
Men 74.8% Women 25.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 16.8% | N/A |
International students | 1.1% | 4.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,661 | 925 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Colorado California Texas Washington Utah | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 38.1% | 46.8% |
Dropout rate | 31.0% | 49.8% |
Transferred out | 27.0% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
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