C
Average
Score: 50/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
52/100 · earnings-weighted

Dakota State University

4-Year Public
📍 Madison, South Dakota 57042
Dakota State University campus, Madison, SD
Dakota State University campus, Madison, SD. Photo: Jlgrabinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (B) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 49%
Outcomes
B
67/100
Affordability
C
46/100
Resources
D
42/100
Experience
B
67/100
Prestige
F
27/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

3,508
Total Enrollment
49%
Graduation Rate
75%
Retention Rate
19.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
98%
Acceptance Rate
$19,115
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Dakota State University ▼

1% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$273,405
Avg Monthly Rent
$864
1-Year Change
+5.3%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Dakota State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$50,970
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$46,146
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$23,500
Median debt at graduation
51.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,215
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
16.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 46% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 48th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (SD wage index 0.86). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Dakota State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer and Information Sciences$61,287$85,696-7%#230 of 459#193$20,059
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$58,166$78,637-8%#59 of 99#48$24,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,748$69,841+2%#381 of 1176#236$20,508
Information Science/Studies$63,636$56,991-33%#140 of 148#134$19,343
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$46,627$48,997+3%#292 of 680#193$23,500
Special Education and Teaching$42,318$46,095-9%#144 of 177#130$27,625
Computer Software and Media Applications$26,379$42,513-28%#52 of 54#47$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$41,119————$25,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Dakota State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $273,405
  • Avg rent near campus: $864/mo — vs ~$502/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 57042 (2.5% cap, Madison)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Dakota State University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#14
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
of 20 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,616 $10,718
Room $4,520
Board $4,108
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,109 $29,211

Financial Aid

95%
Receive Any Aid
25%
Receive Pell Grants
66%
Take Out Loans
$19,115
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$15,948
$30,001 - $48,000$16,778
$48,001 - $75,000$20,432
$75,001 - $110,000$21,975
$110,001+$21,121

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 152 grads/yr Computer and Information Sciences, General 128 grads/yr Information Science/Studies 100 grads/yr System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager 44 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 36 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 27 grads/yr General Studies 26 grads/yr Computer Graphics 24 grads/yr Mathematics, General 14 grads/yr Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications 12 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, Other 12 grads/yr Network and System Administration/Administrator 12 grads/yr Strategic Intelligence 11 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 10 grads/yr Computer Software and Media Applications, Other 10 grads/yr Medical Informatics 9 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 8 grads/yr English Language and Literature/Letters, Other 6 grads/yr Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design 5 grads/yr Information Technology 5 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Dakota State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Computer and information systems managers
$171k/yr 667,100 jobs
Database architects
$136k/yr 66,900 jobs
Computer network architects
$130k/yr 179,200 jobs
Information security analysts
$125k/yr 182,800 jobs
Database administrators
$105k/yr 78,000 jobs
Network and computer systems administrators
$97k/yr 331,500 jobs
Computer network support specialists
$73k/yr 152,700 jobs
Computer and information research scientists
$141k/yr 40,300 jobs

Student Demographics

3,508
Total Students
36%
Women
69%
Traditional Age (18-24)
1%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 75%
Hispanic 5%
Black 5%
Asian 3%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 6%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 94%
Off-Campus (Renters) 1%
With Family 5%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~49 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 23%
Hybrid (Some Online) 19%
Fully Online 58%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 69%
25-64 (Adult) 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Dakota State University?
Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Dakota State University?
Tuition at Dakota State University is $7,616 for in-state students and $10,718 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $19,115.
What is the graduation rate at Dakota State University?
The graduation rate at Dakota State University is 49%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Dakota State University a good school?
Dakota State University has a Repit College Score of 50/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (D): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Dakota State University?
Dakota State University has a total enrollment of 3,508 students.
Is there rental demand near Dakota State University?
Yes! Approximately 1% of students at Dakota State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 49 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Dakota State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Dakota State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · 3,475 students
C+
Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · 3,521 students
C+
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, SD · 1,229 students
C+
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · 9,868 students
C+
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD · 2,492 students
C
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD · 1,509 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology