University of Saint Mary vs South Dakota State University (SDSU)

When it comes to higher education, University of Saint Mary and South Dakota State University stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. With an acceptance rate of 85%, University of Saint Mary welcomes a diverse student body, fostering a close-knit community. In contrast, South Dakota State University boasts a higher acceptance rate of 90%, attracting a larger and more diverse student population. While both universities offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, University of Saint Mary excels in liberal arts and nursing, while South Dakota State University shines in agriculture, engineering, and business. With graduation rates of 58% and 63% respectively, both universities are committed to student success and ensuring their graduates are well-prepared for their chosen careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two esteemed institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
South Dakota State University logo

South Dakota State University

University of Saint Mary logo

University of Saint Mary

Overview

Location Brookings, South Dakota Leavenworth, Kansas
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 80.0% 52.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% 80.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $25
SAT range 980 - 1220 N/A
ACT range 19 - 25 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0%
Total number of applicants 5,774 1,805
Total number of admissions given out 5,048 1,461
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,019 242
Yield rate 40.0% 16.6%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,304

Out of state: $27,814
$44,190
Average net price $17,859 $23,801
Tuition
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
$30,580
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,054

Meal plan: $4,082
Room/dormitory: $4,325

Meal plan: $4,390
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

81.0%
Average amount $4,747
99.0%
Average amount $19,936
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,063
96.0%
Average amount $5,064
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $9,956
11.0%
Average amount $11,369

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
858
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
422
Men 36.0% Women 64.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 60.6%
International students 5.1% 0.6%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 4,488 360
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Kansas Missouri Texas California Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.5% 46.7%
Dropout rate 38.9% 13.3%
Transferred out N/A 40.0%
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
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,712
  • Year 2: $68,101
  • Year 3: $70,710
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $70,356
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,076
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $69,179
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,444
  • Year 2: $61,764
  • Year 3: $66,624
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,984
  • Year 3: $59,211
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,904
  • Year 2: $40,896
  • Year 3: $33,995
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,138
  • Year 3: $30,738
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $40,281
  • Year 3: N/A
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $50,439
  • Year 3: N/A

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