Valley City State University (VCSU) vs Dickinson State

Valley City State University and Dickinson State University, both esteemed institutions in North Dakota, offer distinct educational experiences. Valley City State boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students, while Dickinson State maintains a more selective admissions process. In terms of academic offerings, Valley City State excels in fields like education, business, and social sciences, while Dickinson State specializes in engineering, technology, and health sciences. The student bodies at these universities reflect their unique strengths, with Valley City State fostering a diverse and inclusive community and Dickinson State attracting a higher proportion of male students. When it comes to graduation rates, Dickinson State holds a slight edge, indicating a strong commitment to student success. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the data to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Dickinson State University logo

Dickinson State University

Valley City State University logo

Valley City State University

Overview

Location Dickinson, North Dakota Valley City, North Dakota
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
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 65.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 99.3% 81.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range 923 - 1063 935 - 1190
ACT range 16 - 22 17 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 4.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0% 68.0%
Total number of applicants 459 442
Total number of admissions given out 456 360
Admitted students who chose to enroll 269 196
Yield rate 59.0% 54.4%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $20,322

Out of state: $22,142
In state: $20,016

Out of state: $24,790
Average net price $15,607 $13,243
Tuition
In state: $6,474

Out of state: $8,294
In state: $6,364

Out of state: $11,138
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,000

Meal plan: $4,500
Room/dormitory: $2,505

Meal plan: $4,414
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $5,352
99.0%
Average amount $5,907
Students receiving federal student loan 53.0%
Average amount $4,882
66.0%
Average amount $4,794
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $8,989
17.0%
Average amount $6,743

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,337
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
1,523
Men 41.8% Women 58.2%
Graduate students 78
Men 52.6% Women 47.4%
163
Men 32.5% Women 67.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 50.2% 36.9%
International students 3.4% 1.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 397 462
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Dakota Montana Wyoming South Dakota California North Dakota Minnesota Alaska Hawaii Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 36.4% 53.2%
Dropout rate 29.4% 17.9%
Transferred out 32.1% 28.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,558
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $55,198
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,445
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $50,127
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,657
  • Year 2: $41,789
  • Year 3: $45,890
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,396
  • Year 2: $38,597
  • Year 3: $43,780
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,832
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $43,117
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,405
  • Year 2: $42,123
  • Year 3: $42,677
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $40,621
  • Year 3: $41,233
Agriculture, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,348
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: N/A
Data Processing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,525
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,075
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $56,925
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,447
  • Year 2: $43,000
  • Year 3: $45,538
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,584
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $43,994
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,217
  • Year 2: $37,537
  • Year 3: $43,180
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,083
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,045
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A

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