WVU Tech vs Dakota State

West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVUIT) and Dakota State University (DSU) stand out as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. WVUIT, nestled in the heart of West Virginia, boasts a close-knit community and a strong focus on engineering, technology, and business programs. In contrast, DSU, located in the vibrant city of Madison, South Dakota, excels in computer science, information systems, and cybersecurity, attracting students from across the nation. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in their acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Dakota State University logo

Dakota State University

West Virginia University Institute of Technology logo

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Overview

Location Madison, South Dakota Beckley, West Virginia
Campus setting Town: Distant City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 57.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.6% 66.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 1000 - 1245 920 - 1130
ACT range 19 - 26 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 11.0% 60.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0% 52.0%
Total number of applicants 681 902
Total number of admissions given out 583 599
Admitted students who chose to enroll 366 303
Yield rate 62.8% 50.6%
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: $24,073

Out of state: $27,175
In state: $20,008

Out of state: $31,576
Average net price $17,572 $10,966
Tuition
In state: $7,616

Out of state: $10,718
In state: $7,728

Out of state: $19,296
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,116

Meal plan: $3,308
Room/dormitory: $7,116

Meal plan: $4,694
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

79.0%
Average amount $4,645
91.0%
Average amount $8,199
Students receiving federal student loan 58.0%
Average amount $4,987
43.0%
Average amount $5,475
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $9,288
4.0%
Average amount $15,027

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,751
Men 60.9% Women 39.1%
1,619
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
Graduate students 468
Men 74.8% Women 25.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 9.1%
International students 4.5% 5.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant City: Small
Dormitory capacity 925 404
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A West Virginia Virginia Ohio Florida Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Liberal Arts
  • Psychology
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 46.8% 28.1%
Dropout rate 49.8% 35.4%
Transferred out N/A 36.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,983
  • Year 2: $51,035
  • Year 3: $66,125
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,841
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $46,318
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,973
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $44,718
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,205
  • Year 3: $44,370
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $43,878
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $39,153
  • Year 3: $38,114
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,986
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $31,143
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,122
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,967
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: N/A
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,795
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: N/A
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,506
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $77,273
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,040
  • Year 2: $65,238
  • Year 3: $76,205
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,420
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $74,328
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,850
  • Year 2: $65,457
  • Year 3: $73,836
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,916
  • Year 2: $60,061
  • Year 3: $67,338
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,059
  • Year 2: $58,092
  • Year 3: $65,746
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,227
  • Year 2: $61,454
  • Year 3: $63,170
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,916
  • Year 2: $50,060
  • Year 3: $59,621
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,412
  • Year 2: $44,189
  • Year 3: $53,321
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,769
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $44,510