SUNY-ESF vs. Dakota State

Should I go to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry or Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SUNY-ESF 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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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry vs. Dakota State University comparison
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Dakota State University College 3 College 4
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Dakota State University
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Overview

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
Location Syracuse, NY Madison, SD
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,976 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #206 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website esf.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $18,720 $10,718
Room & Board $17,300 $8,018
Avg Net Price $20,928 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $8,713 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 92%

Admission

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,466 882
Admitted 1,714 696
Acceptance Rate 69.5% 78.9%
Enrolled % 20.8% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30 19/27
SAT Range 1130/1300 940/1240
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (38%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (37%)
  • Architecture (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Construction Trades (4%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
Graduation Rate 66% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $204 $242

Diversity

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
% Men 49% 64%
% Women 51% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 84%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 SUNY-ESF Dakota State
% In-State 76% 58%
% Out-of-State 23% 39%

Campus

 SUNY-ESF 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 SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (3,241 students vs. 1,976 students)

SUNY-ESF vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY-ESF or Dakota State?

  • Dakota State University is 7.7% more expensive to attend than SUNY-ESF for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.7% higher at SUNY-ESF than Dakota State University ($18,720.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than SUNY-ESF ($17,977 vs. $20,928)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 115.8% lower than costs at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($8,018 vs. $17,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (92% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students is 59.4% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($8,713 vs. $5,467)

SUNY-ESF vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (1215) is 168 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming SUNY-ESF students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman SUNY-ESF students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than SUNY-ESF (69.5%)

SUNY-ESF vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SUNY-ESF 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 SUNY-ESF.

  • The graduation rate at SUNY-ESF is higher than Dakota State University (66% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry earn on average $4,000 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $42,200)
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Dakota State graduates. ($19,750 vs. $23,500)
  • SUNY-ESF graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Dakota State graduates. ($204 vs. $242)
  • More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

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