Colorado Mesa vs South Dakota State University (SDSU)

Colorado Mesa University and South Dakota State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Colorado Mesa University, nestled in the heart of Grand Junction, Colorado, boasts a vibrant campus and a diverse student body. With an acceptance rate of 86%, it welcomes students from various backgrounds. South Dakota State University, located in Brookings, South Dakota, is renowned for its strong academic programs and research opportunities. It maintains a slightly lower acceptance rate of 80%, attracting students seeking a rigorous academic environment. While both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Colorado Mesa University excels in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, while South Dakota State University shines in Agriculture, Engineering, and Natural Sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover more about these universities' unique offerings and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Colorado Mesa University logo

Colorado Mesa University

South Dakota State University logo

South Dakota State University

Overview

Location Grand Junction, Colorado Brookings, South Dakota
Campus setting City: Small Town: Remote
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% 80.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 80.2% 87.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 948 - 1200 980 - 1220
ACT range 19 - 26 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 45.0% 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 86.0%
Total number of applicants 8,082 5,774
Total number of admissions given out 6,485 5,048
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,855 2,019
Yield rate 28.6% 40.0%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,148

Out of state: $35,470
In state: $24,304

Out of state: $27,814
Average net price $15,324 $17,859
Tuition
In state: $8,020

Out of state: $21,342
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,100

Meal plan: $5,165
Room/dormitory: $4,054

Meal plan: $4,082
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $7,228
81.0%
Average amount $4,747
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $4,950
60.0%
Average amount $5,063
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $12,590
17.0%
Average amount $9,956

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,712
Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
Graduate students 195
Men 34.9% Women 65.1%
1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 16.8% N/A
International students 1.1% 5.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 2,661 4,488
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

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
  • Agriculture
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 38.1% 59.5%
Dropout rate 31.0% 38.9%
Transferred out 27.0% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,879
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $67,005
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,281
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $64,998
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,101
  • Year 2: $60,746
  • Year 3: $63,677
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,946
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $59,293
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $58,361
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,240
  • Year 3: $57,344
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,940
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $52,944
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,215
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $52,774
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $39,153
  • Year 3: $48,680
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,157
  • Year 2: $39,504
  • Year 3: $46,603
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,688
  • Year 2: $117,014
  • Year 3: $126,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $114,802
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,967
  • Year 2: $74,845
  • Year 3: $81,032
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,229
  • Year 2: $61,322
  • Year 3: $70,114
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,268
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $62,932
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,985
  • Year 2: $56,234
  • Year 3: $61,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,372
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $60,463
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,551
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $59,988
Plant Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,213
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $55,715
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $54,439

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