Black Hills State University vs. Central Washington University

Deciding between Black Hills State University and Central Washington University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Black Hills State University
Central Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
  • Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
  • Setting
  • Black Hills State University Remote Town
  • Central Washington University Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Black Hills State University 3,346
  • Central Washington University 10,811
  • Type
  • Black Hills State University Public 4 Year
  • Central Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Black Hills State University #1001
  • Central Washington University #621
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Black Hills State University -
  • Central Washington University -
  • Status
  • Black Hills State University Non-profit
  • Central Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Black Hills State University bhsu.edu
  • Central Washington University cwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Black Hills State University
  • Central Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Black Hills State University $8,764
  • Central Washington University $9,417
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Black Hills State University $11,866
  • Central Washington University $27,526
  • Room & Board
  • Black Hills State University $12,160
  • Central Washington University $16,480
  • Average Net Price
  • Black Hills State University $15,576
  • Central Washington University $19,898
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Black Hills State University $6,070
  • Central Washington University $8,816
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Black Hills State University 76%
  • Central Washington University 85%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Black Hills State University Calculate
  • Central Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Black Hills State University 1,690
  • Central Washington University 8,919
  • Admitted
  • Black Hills State University 1,628
  • Central Washington University 8,082
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Black Hills State University 96.3%
  • Central Washington University 90.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Black Hills State University 30.1%
  • Central Washington University 20%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Black Hills State University 1050
  • Central Washington University 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • Black Hills State University 21
  • Central Washington University 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Black Hills State University 3.22
  • Central Washington University 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Black Hills State University B+
  • Central Washington University B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Black Hills State University Very Easy
  • Central Washington University Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Black Hills State University
  • Central Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • Black Hills State University 18/24
  • Central Washington University 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • Black Hills State University 965/1135
  • Central Washington University 930/1150
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Black Hills State University Test optional
  • Central Washington University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Black Hills State University
  • Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Black Hills State University 17:1
  • Central Washington University 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Black Hills State University
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Central Washington University
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Black Hills State University 28%
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Black Hills State University $38,800
  • Central Washington University $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Black Hills State University 62%
  • Central Washington University 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Black Hills State University $25,478
  • Central Washington University $20,737
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Black Hills State University $263
  • Central Washington University $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Black Hills State University 37%
  • Central Washington University 44%
  • % Women
  • Black Hills State University 63%
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Black Hills State University Very Low
  • Central Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Black Hills State University No
  • Central Washington University No
  • % White
  • Black Hills State University 83%
  • Central Washington University 59%
  • % Asian
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • % Black
  • Black Hills State University 2%
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Black Hills State University 5%
  • Central Washington University 14%
  • % Native American
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • Central Washington University 7%
  • % International
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • Central Washington University 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • Central Washington University 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Black Hills State University 55%
  • Central Washington University 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Black Hills State University 44%
  • Central Washington University 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Black Hills State University No
  • Central Washington University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Central Washington University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • Learn More
  • Black Hills State University Details
  • Central Washington University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD with Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Washington University is larger than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (10,811 students vs. 3,346 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Black Hills State University is located in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting); Central Washington University is in Ellensburg, WA (Distant Town setting).
  • Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Black Hills State University 17:1; Central Washington University 15:1.

Black Hills State University vs. Central Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black Hills State University or Central Washington University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Black Hills State University than Central Washington University ($15,576 vs. $19,898).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 26.2% lower than at Central Washington University ($12,160 vs. $16,480).
  • Central Washington University is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Black Hills State University (about $653 more per year; $9,417.00 vs. $8,764.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 132% higher at Central Washington University than at Black Hills State University (about $15,660 more per year; $27,526.00 vs. $11,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Washington University than at Black Hills State University (85% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 45.2% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($8,816 vs. $6,070).

Black Hills State University vs. Central Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Black Hills State University or Central Washington University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Central Washington University and Black Hills State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Black Hills State University (1050) is 10 points higher than at Central Washington University (1040).
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Central Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Black Hills State University 965/1135; Central Washington University 930/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Black Hills State University 18/24; Central Washington University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Black Hills State University - Test optional; Central Washington University - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Central Washington University (3.08).
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Central Washington University (90.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Black Hills State University vs. 20% at Central Washington University.

Black Hills State University vs. Central Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Black Hills State University and Central Washington University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Central Washington University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Black Hills State University's (28%).
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $38,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Washington University graduates have a $4,741 lower median loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates ($20,737 vs. $25,478).
  • Among borrowers, Central Washington University graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Black Hills State University graduates ($214 vs. $263).
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Washington University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.