Cornell College vs. Dakota State

Should I go to Cornell College or Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cornell College or Dakota State 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.
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Cornell College vs. Dakota State University comparison
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Cornell College Dakota State University
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Overview

 Cornell College Dakota State
Location Mount Vernon, IA Madison, SD
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,073 3,241
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #424 #808
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cornellcollege.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cornell College Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $48,514 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $48,514 $10,718
Room & Board $10,872 $8,018
Avg Net Price $25,686 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $38,069 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

 Cornell College Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,057 882
Admitted 2,425 696
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 78.9%
Enrolled % 13.6% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 19/27
SAT Range 1170/1380 940/1240
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

 Cornell College Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 Cornell College Dakota State
Graduation Rate 70% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,400 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $242

Diversity

 Cornell College Dakota State
% Men 52% 64%
% Women 48% 36%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 84%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 13% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

 Cornell College Dakota State
% In-State 30% 58%
% Out-of-State 67% 39%

Campus

 Cornell College Dakota State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Dakota State University is larger than than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (3,241 students vs. 1,073 students)

Cornell College vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell College or Dakota State?

  • Cornell College is 537% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($48,514.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 352.6% higher at Cornell College than Dakota State University ($48,514.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than Cornell College ($17,977 vs. $25,686)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 35.6% lower than costs at Cornell College ($8,018 vs. $10,872)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than Dakota State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 596.3% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($38,069 vs. $5,467)

Cornell College vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cornell College (1177) is 130 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming Cornell College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Cornell College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

Cornell College vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cornell College or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and Cornell College.

  • The graduation rate at Cornell College is higher than Dakota State University (70% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Cornell College earn on average $3,200 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($45,400 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More Cornell College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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