Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Dakota State University is a public regional university located in Madison, South Dakota. Dakota State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Dakota State University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $44,019 10 years after enrolling, 7th in South Dakota, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Dakota State University bachelor students earn 2% more than the national average.
Dakota State University’s median net annual cost of $18,630 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Dakota State University sorted by number of graduates - Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, Computer science, Computer software, Computer Systems Analysis, Education, Special Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$18,630
Average years to graduate
4.6
Business Administration
Rank: #530
Economic score: 4.27
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: 4.5
Health Administrative Services
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.56
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 1 graduate programs at Dakota State University - Computer Systems Analysis - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 48% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Dakota State University is 1% lower than the state average, and 9% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Dakota State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 20% of the measured graduating class, 15% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Dakota State University graduates within 4.7 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.
Dakota State University’s economic mobility score of 6.58 is calculated by adjusting the 5.16 economic score of lower-income students by the 20% pell grant recipients within the student body. Dakota State University’s EMS of 6.58 ranks in the bottom 10% 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 10%
The average Title IV recipient at Dakota State University pays $18,630 a year, $4,128 less than the $22,758 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 $18,630
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Dakota State University, 79% 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 $18,630 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 $6,509. This is 6% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,987
Pell grants
$4,154
State grants
$1,122
Institutional grants
$3,060
Dakota State University offers 15 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Dakota 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
21
Percentage of programs online
60%
Dakota State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 86% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 681 applicants, of which 583 were admitted and 366 enrolled. Dakota State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
63%
83%
Female
38%
59%
First time
47%
59%
In-state
62%
68%
1st generation
28%
35%
White
81%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
8%
12%