MSU vs. Dakota State

Should I go to Minot State University or Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU 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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Minot State University vs. Dakota State University comparison
Minot State University Dakota State University College 3 College 4
Minot State University Dakota State University
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Overview

 MSU Dakota State
Location Minot, ND Madison, SD
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,777 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #726 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website minotstateu.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $7,168 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $7,168 $10,718
Room & Board $7,180 $8,018
Avg Net Price $12,360 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $5,542 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 92%

Admission

 MSU Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 498 882
Admitted 464 696
Acceptance Rate 93.2% 78.9%
Enrolled % 81.5% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22 19/27
SAT Range 992/1178 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 Jun 30, 2024

Academics

 MSU Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 MSU Dakota State
Graduation Rate 34% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,725 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $193 $242

Diversity

 MSU Dakota State
% Men 35% 64%
% Women 65% 36%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 84%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 13% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 MSU Dakota State
% In-State 72% 58%
% Out-of-State 21% 39%

Campus

 MSU 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 MSU based on total student enrollment (3,241 students vs. 2,777 students)

MSU vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or Dakota State?

  • Dakota State University is 6.2% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.5% higher at Dakota State than Minot State University ($10,718.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minot State University than Dakota State ($12,360 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minot State University are 11.7% lower than costs at Dakota State University ($7,180 vs. $8,018)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than Minot State University (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Minot State University students is 1.4% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($5,542 vs. $5,467)

MSU vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Dakota State University (1047) is 48 points higher than at MSU (999)
  • Incoming Dakota State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at MSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

MSU vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU 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 MSU.

  • The graduation rate at MSU is the same as at Dakota State University (34% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minot State University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $42,200)
  • Minot State University students graduate with a $4,775 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($18,725 vs. $23,500)
  • MSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($193 vs. $242)
  • More MSU 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/