Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Black Hills State University is a public regional university located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Black Hills State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Black Hills State University is in the bottom 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $39,963 10 years after enrolling, 10th in South Dakota, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Black Hills State University bachelor students earn 10% less than the national average.
Black Hills State University’s median net annual cost of $16,961 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Black Hills State University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Education, Health & Fitness, Biology, Community Org & Advocacy, Sociology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,961
Average years to graduate
4.7
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Education (subject specific)
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.78
Special Education
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.63
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 8.67
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 19.11
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at Black Hills State University - Education, Education (subject specific), Curriculum and Instruction - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 44% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Black Hills State University is 5% lower than the state average, and 13% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Black Hills State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 22% of the measured graduating class, 13% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Black Hills State University graduates within 4.9 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Black Hills State University’s economic mobility score of 2.42 is calculated by adjusting the 10.54 economic score of lower-income students by the 22% pell grant recipients within the student body. Black Hills State University’s EMS of 2.42 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Black Hills State University pays $16,961 a year, $4,611 less than the $21,572 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,961
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Black Hills State University, 89% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,961 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 60% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,660. This is 6% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,966
Pell grants
$4,413
State grants
$1,386
Institutional grants
$2,989
Black Hills State University offers 3 online bachelor programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Black Hills State University offers 6 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
9
Hybrid programs
1
Percentage of programs online
15%
Black Hills State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 97% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,382 applicants, of which 1,344 were admitted and 452 enrolled. Black Hills State University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
80%
83%
Female
62%
59%
First time
52%
59%
In-state
61%
68%
1st generation
28%
35%
White
83%
52%
Black
1%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
3%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
7%
12%