Dakota Wesleyan University vs Dickinson State
Dakota Wesleyan University and Dickinson State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Dakota Wesleyan, a private university in Mitchell, South Dakota, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, while Dickinson State, a public university in Dickinson, North Dakota, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 85%. Dakota Wesleyan's student body is predominantly female (60%), while Dickinson State's is more evenly balanced (52% female, 48% male). Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Nursing, but Dakota Wesleyan also features programs in Music and Art, while Dickinson State emphasizes Health Sciences and Engineering. With graduation rates of 45% and 38% respectively, both universities are committed to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two excellent universities and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Dakota Wesleyan University |
![]() Dickinson State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Mitchell, South Dakota | Dickinson, North Dakota |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 71.0% | 65.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.7% | 99.3% |
Application fees | $110 |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$35
|
SAT range | 860 - 1100 | 923 - 1063 |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | 16 - 22 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | 4.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 60.0% | 63.0% |
Total number of applicants | 1,047 | 459 |
Total number of admissions given out | 793 | 456 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 169 | 269 |
Yield rate | 21.3% | 59.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $43,080 |
In state:
$20,322
Out of state:
$22,142
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Average net price | $21,830 | $15,607 |
Tuition | $29,700 |
In state:
$6,474
Out of state:
$8,294
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$3,350
Meal plan:
$4,200
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Room/dormitory:
$3,000
Meal plan:
$4,500
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $18,033 |
96.0%
Average amount $5,352 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
92.0%
Average amount $5,049 |
53.0%
Average amount $4,882 |
Students taking out private loans |
26.0%
Average amount $13,323 |
13.0%
Average amount $8,989 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
770
Men 42.9% Women 57.1% |
1,337
Men 43.2% Women 56.8% |
Graduate students |
156
Men 35.3% Women 64.7% |
78
Men 52.6% Women 47.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 50.2% |
International students | 1.1% | 3.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 520 | 397 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | North Dakota Montana Wyoming South Dakota California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 54.9% | 36.4% |
Dropout rate | 38.3% | 29.4% |
Transferred out | 6.9% | 32.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Agriculture, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Data Processing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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