South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. SDSMT, located in Rapid City, South Dakota, is a public research university specializing in engineering, science, and technology. UAF, situated in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a public land-grant research university with a focus on Arctic and northern studies. While both institutions provide high-quality education, they differ in several aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison will delve into these differences, helping prospective students make informed decisions about their higher education journey.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology logo

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

University of Alaska Fairbanks logo

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Overview

Location Rapid City, South Dakota Fairbanks, Alaska
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Small
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 70.0% 68.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 80.5% 64.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1155 - 1355 1110 - 1360
ACT range 24 - 29 17 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 84.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 1,445 1,402
Total number of admissions given out 1,163 907
Admitted students who chose to enroll 489 678
Yield rate 42.0% 74.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,330

Out of state: $33,750
In state: $25,548

Out of state: $39,684
Average net price $19,257 $9,379
Tuition
In state: $7,820

Out of state: $12,240
In state: $5,616

Out of state: $19,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,060

Meal plan: $4,080
Room/dormitory: $5,150

Meal plan: $5,390
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

83.0%
Average amount $5,895
90.0%
Average amount $8,808
Students receiving federal student loan 52.0%
Average amount $4,907
21.0%
Average amount $5,312
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $12,435
2.0%
Average amount $13,596

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,083
Men 76.4% Women 23.6%
5,844
Men 38.4% Women 61.6%
Graduate students 333
Men 76.3% Women 23.7%
982
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 63.0% 17.1%
International students 5.3% 2.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,082 1,554
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Dakota Colorado Minnesota Nebraska Wyoming Alaska Washington California Oregon Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Physical Science
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Education
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 52.3% 38.4%
Dropout rate 35.2% 39.6%
Transferred out 7.2% 18.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $75,822
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,634
  • Year 2: $67,789
  • Year 3: $71,638
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,408
  • Year 2: $60,523
  • Year 3: $64,746
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,674
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: N/A
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,157
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: N/A
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,319
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,327
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: N/A
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,985
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $75,889
  • Year 3: $89,097
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,843
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $79,303
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,735
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $73,558
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $62,935
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,188
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $53,812
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,355
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $44,672
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $33,666
  • Year 2: $44,942
  • Year 3: $43,923
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,119
  • Year 3: $34,458
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,635
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $32,564
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,241
  • Year 2: $26,739
  • Year 3: $32,435

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