South Dakota University vs University of Mary (UMary)

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, the University of South Dakota (USD) and the University of Mary (UMary) stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, providing prospective students with valuable insights to help them make informed decisions about their academic journey. Whether you're drawn to USD's strong liberal arts foundation or UMary's focus on professional programs, this comprehensive analysis will guide you towards the university that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
University of Mary logo

University of Mary

University of South Dakota logo

University of South Dakota

Overview

Location Bismarck, North Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota
Campus setting Rural: Fringe Town: Distant
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 77.0% 77.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 78.8% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 1050 - 1290
ACT range N/A 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0%
Total number of applicants 1,532 4,272
Total number of admissions given out 1,207 3,717
Admitted students who chose to enroll 510 1,233
Yield rate 42.3% 33.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $35,370
In state: $25,657

Out of state: $29,167
Average net price $19,474 $18,974
Tuition $18,340
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,690

Meal plan: $4,300
Room/dormitory: $4,366

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $11,954
84.0%
Average amount $5,196
Students receiving federal student loan 65.0%
Average amount $5,176
60.0%
Average amount $5,102
Students taking out private loans 20.0%
Average amount $10,222
14.0%
Average amount $9,890

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,579
Men 41.5% Women 58.5%
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
Graduate students 1,215
Men 30.4% Women 69.6%
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 64.5% 39.4%
International students 0.1% 2.7%
Campus local/setting Rural: Fringe Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 1,325 2,154
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin California Montana South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 64.3% 60.1%
Dropout rate 31.5% 14.2%
Transferred out 2.5% 24.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,755
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $91,441
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,785
  • Year 2: $60,230
  • Year 3: $65,123
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,166
  • Year 2: $54,359
  • Year 3: $62,069
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,298
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $59,512
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,302
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,222
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,750
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,621
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,370
  • Year 2: $56,641
  • Year 3: N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,722
  • Year 2: $100,951
  • Year 3: $109,099
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,473
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $100,634
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,587
  • Year 2: $68,778
  • Year 3: $81,751
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $69,478
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,040
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $68,456
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,011
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $68,011
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $64,788
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,801
  • Year 2: $65,170
  • Year 3: $64,105
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,161
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $63,921
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,986
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $61,718

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