Black Hills State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Spearfish, SD

$7,541

Avg in-state tuition

$10,611

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Black Hills State University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Black Hills State University is a small public university located on a rural campus in Spearfish, South Dakota. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,413, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The university offers 54 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 39%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,541, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $10,611.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

97% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

65% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

39% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Required

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 18-24

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1038-1203

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of fewer than 5,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

4k

Students enrolled

64%

Online student enrollment

16:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold

Demographics

White

81%

Hispanic

5%

Unknown

4%

Two or more races

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

2%

Black

1%

Asian

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

63%

Socio-economic diversity

34% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

7

Total Online Enrollment

2,320

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

92% On-campus

8% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 4% online

Graduate Certificate X Bold Not offered

Master's Check Bold 71% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $7,541 $10,611
Graduate $8,384 $8,384

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,200
On-campus room and board $7,200
On-campus other expenses $4,500
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $7,200
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,500
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,500

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $20,441 $23,511
Off-campus without family $20,441 $23,511
Off-campus with family $13,241 $16,311

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

48%

State Grant Aid

11%

Institution Grant Aid

64%

Pell Grant

34%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $3,977
State Grant Aid $1,267
Institution Grant Aid $2,611
Pell Grant Aid $4,274

Financial Outlook

$25k

Average student debt after graduation

$31k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division II with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Other Sports
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Education

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

8

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

9

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

10

History

BA

MA

DOC

11

History

BA

MA

DOC

12

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

13

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

16

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

BA

MA

DOC

17

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

18

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

19

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

20

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

21

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC