MLC vs. USD

Should I go to Martin Luther College or University of South Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MLC or USD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

South Dakota State University University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska St Olaf Augustana Truman State Wheaton College Augustana University South Dakota School of Mines and Technology NSU UNI
Martin Luther College vs. University of South Dakota comparison
Martin Luther College University of South Dakota College 3 College 4
Martin Luther College University of South Dakota
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 MLC USD
Location New Ulm, MN Vermillion, SD
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 880 9,856
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #597
Religious Affiliation Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mlc-wels.edu usd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MLC USD
Tuition (In State) $17,420 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $17,420 $11,283
Room & Board $6,880 $8,224
Avg Net Price $22,293 $18,378
Avg Grant Aid $6,301 $6,308
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 79%

Admission

 MLC USD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 215 4,480
Admitted 180 4,456
Acceptance Rate 83.7% 99.5%
Enrolled % 78.9% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 19/25
SAT Range 1051/1316 1020/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 MLC USD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (67%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • Health Professions (32%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 MLC USD
Graduation Rate 73% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,000 $48,200
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $239 $258

Diversity

 MLC USD
% Men 47% 37%
% Women 53% 63%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 93% 85%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 MLC USD
% In-State 20% 54%
% Out-of-State 78% 43%

Campus

 MLC USD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Dakota is larger than than MLC based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 880 students)

MLC vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MLC or USD?

  • Martin Luther College is 124.1% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($17,420.00 vs. $7,773.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.4% higher at MLC than University of South Dakota ($17,420.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Dakota than MLC ($18,378 vs. $22,293)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 19.5% lower than costs at University of South Dakota ($6,880 vs. $8,224)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Martin Luther College than University of South Dakota (99% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Dakota students is 0.1% larger than aid received Martin Luther College ($6,308 vs. $6,301)

MLC vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MLC or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or MLC .

  • The average SAT score at Martin Luther College (1145) is 96 points higher than at USD (1049)
  • Incoming MLC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at USD (23)
  • Accepted freshman MLC students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at USD (3.43)
  • USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than MLC (83.7%)

MLC vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MLC or USD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USD and MLC.

  • The graduation rate at MLC is higher than University of South Dakota (73% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $10,200 more per year than MLC graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $38,000)
  • Martin Luther College students graduate with a $1,875 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($23,125 vs. $25,000)
  • MLC graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($239 vs. $258)
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/