At a glance
Average net price
$21,057
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
51.3%
Admission rate
88%
Undergrad size
2,071
In-state tuition
$9,654
Out-of-state tuition
$12,756
Cost of attendance
$25,753
Median earnings (10y)
$50,970
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,215
- ACT midpoint
- 23
- Retention
- 75.5%
- Locale
- Town
Programs breakdown
12 program areas reported · Heavily focused on stem (68% of credentials).
- STEM68%
- Health3%
- Business5%
- Humanities & arts7%
- Social sciences12%
- Trades & services4%
- Computer science65.8%~1,363 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Education12.2%~252 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Liberal arts5.9%~122 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Business5.5%~113 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~57 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Military tech2.1%~43 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~43 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Mathematics1.5%~30 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English1.3%~26 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~13 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~4 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences0.2%~4 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
39 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Bachelor's | 236 | $49,983 | $25,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 117 | $50,973 | $23,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master's | 107 | $91,122 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Bachelor's | 64 | $25,986 | $27,000 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master's | 55 | $69,795 | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Master's | 51 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Associate's | 37 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Undergraduate certificate | 36 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 36 | — | $26,600 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate's | 36 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 34 | — | $37,250 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Bachelor's | 33 | $42,967 | $29,318 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor's | 33 | $38,694 | $31,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Undergraduate certificate | 28 | — | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 25 | $37,841 | $30,625 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 20 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor's | 18 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Undergraduate certificate | 17 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. | Master's | 17 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Undergraduate certificate | 16 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Associate's | 15 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Undergraduate certificate | 14 | — | — |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | Undergraduate certificate | 14 | — | — |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations. | Bachelor's | 14 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Doctoral | 13 | — | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other. | Bachelor's | 13 | — | — |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 13 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate's | 13 | $36,834 | — |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 12 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Doctoral | 11 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate's | 11 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics. | Master's | 10 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications. | Associate's | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics. | Undergraduate certificate | 7 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 7 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 6 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Graduate certificate | 5 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Bachelor's | 5 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a mid-sized institution located in Madison, South Dakota, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 2,071 undergraduate students in a town setting. The most popular fields of study include Computer science, Education, Liberal arts.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Dakota State University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $21,057 per year, which is above the national average compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $9,654 for in-state students and $12,756 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $25,753 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 51.3%, a above-average completion outcome. 75.5% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $50,970 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Dakota State University confers degrees and certificates across 12 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Computer science, Education, Liberal arts. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (68% of credentials), social sciences (12% of credentials), humanities & arts (7% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Dakota State University accepts 88% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,215. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 23.
Location & campus
Set in Madison, South Dakota (town), Dakota State University draws students from across South Dakota and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Dakota State University
Q.How much does Dakota State University cost?
The average net price at Dakota State University is $21,057 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $25,753.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Dakota State University?
Dakota State University has a 6-year graduation rate of 51.3% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Dakota State University?
Dakota State University admits 88% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do Dakota State University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Dakota State University graduate earns $50,970 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Dakota State University?
Published tuition is $9,654 in-state and $12,756 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Dakota State University located?
Dakota State University is located in Madison, South Dakota (ZIP 57042).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Dakota State University at their official website.