C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
A
Outcome Rating
82/100 · earnings-weighted

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

4-Year Public
📍 Rapid City, South Dakota 57701
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus, Rapid City, SD
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus, Rapid City, SD. Photo: Sadads, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B+
74/100
Affordability
C
45/100
Resources
C+
58/100
Experience
A
88/100
Prestige
D
31/100

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

2,492
Total Enrollment
58%
Graduation Rate
84%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
85%
Acceptance Rate
$20,243
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ▼

2% 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
$306,548
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,474
1-Year Change
+4.1%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$72,257
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$62,863
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$27,000
Median debt at graduation
53%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,245
Average SAT
27
Median ACT
16.9%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 37% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 92nd 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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$78,193$95,639+4%#146 of 459#112$27,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$73,551$94,201-6%#201 of 258#122$22,020
Industrial Engineering$70,216$92,815-6%#66 of 94#52$25,000
Chemical Engineering$72,785$90,845-7%#124 of 158#82$27,000
Mining and Mineral Engineering$90,514$88,904-12%#7 of 7#5$27,164
Mechanical Engineering$69,667$85,350-7%#288 of 318#166$25,500
Civil Engineering$68,755$80,613-7%#189 of 233#109$27,000
Geological/Geophysical Engineering—$75,779-3%#5 of 7#4—
Computer Engineering$72,639—————
Metallurgical Engineering$71,985————$27,500
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences—$48,069-20%#131 of 138#123—

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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $306,548
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,474/mo — vs ~$461/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 57701 (3.8% cap, Rapid City)

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

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🏆 Where South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Ranks

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

🥈
Metallurgical Engineering
of 2 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,800 $12,200
Room $4,150
Board $4,116
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,100 $30,500

Financial Aid

95%
Receive Any Aid
16%
Receive Pell Grants
54%
Take Out Loans
$20,243
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$15,481
$30,001 - $48,000$17,330
$48,001 - $75,000$20,041
$75,001 - $110,000$21,496
$110,001+$22,179

Student Demographics

2,492
Total Students
24%
Women
90%
Traditional Age (18-24)
2%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 78%
Hispanic 6%
Black 1%
Asian 2%
Two or More 2%
Non-Resident 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 91%
Off-Campus (Renters) 2%
With Family 8%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~42 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 84%
Hybrid (Some Online) 12%
Fully Online 4%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 90%
25-64 (Adult) 6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has an acceptance rate of 85%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
Tuition at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $7,800 for in-state students and $12,200 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $20,243.
What is the graduation rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
The graduation rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is 58%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology a good school?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a total enrollment of 2,492 students. Most students (90%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
Yes! Approximately 2% of students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 42 students who need rental housing near campus.

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

🎓 Similar Colleges to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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

C+
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, SD · 1,229 students
C+
Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · 3,521 students
C
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · 3,475 students
C
Dakota State University
Madison, SD · 3,508 students
C+
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · 11,498 students
C+
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · 9,868 students

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