South Dakota State University (SDSU) vs Montana U

South Dakota State University and The University of Montana, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. South Dakota State University, located in Brookings, South Dakota, is known for its strong agricultural and engineering programs, while The University of Montana, nestled in Missoula, Montana, excels in liberal arts and environmental studies. With acceptance rates of 88% and 82%, respectively, both universities welcome a diverse student body. While South Dakota State University boasts a higher graduation rate of 63%, The University of Montana offers a more intimate learning environment with a smaller student-to-faculty ratio. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, student demographics, and additional factors that may influence your choice between these two esteemed institutions.
South Dakota State University logo

South Dakota State University

The University of Montana logo

The University of Montana

Overview

Location Brookings, South Dakota Missoula, Montana
Campus setting Town: Remote City: 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 80.0% 75.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% 82.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $60
SAT range 980 - 1220 1070 - 1280
ACT range 19 - 25 18 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 9.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 41.0%
Total number of applicants 5,774 7,233
Total number of admissions given out 5,048 5,941
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,019 1,542
Yield rate 40.0% 26.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,304

Out of state: $27,814
In state: $23,736

Out of state: $44,720
Average net price $17,859 $15,228
Tuition
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
In state: $5,352

Out of state: $26,112
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,054

Meal plan: $4,082
Room/dormitory: $4,730

Meal plan: $6,324
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $4,747
97.0%
Average amount $6,340
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,063
44.0%
Average amount $5,401
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $9,956
4.0%
Average amount $13,104

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
7,223
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students 1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
2,883
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 5.1% 1.9%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Small
Dormitory capacity 4,488 2,886
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.5% 47.7%
Dropout rate 38.9% 49.1%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,396
  • Year 2: $113,016
  • Year 3: $118,046
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,692
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $71,476
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,746
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,366
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $65,302
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,886
  • Year 2: $62,707
  • Year 3: $64,764
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,287
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $61,703
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,687
  • Year 2: $52,433
  • Year 3: $59,094
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,412
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $52,044
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,236
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $50,914
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,604
  • Year 2: $45,852
  • Year 3: $48,041

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