USAFA vs. Dakota State

Deciding between United States Air Force Academy and Dakota State 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.

United States Air Force Academy
Dakota State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Dakota State Madison, SD
  • Setting
  • USAFA Large City
  • Dakota State Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Dakota State 3,774
  • Type
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • Dakota State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USAFA
  • Dakota State #718
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USAFA -
  • Dakota State -
  • Status
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Dakota State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USAFA
  • Dakota State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Dakota State $9,654
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Dakota State $12,756
  • Room & Board
  • USAFA $0
  • Dakota State $9,742
  • Average Net Price
  • USAFA -
  • Dakota State $20,438
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USAFA $0
  • Dakota State $5,371
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Dakota State 2,418
  • Admitted
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Dakota State 2,129
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Dakota State 88%
  • Enrolled
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Dakota State 18%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USAFA 1340
  • Dakota State 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • USAFA 29
  • Dakota State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Dakota State 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USAFA A-
  • Dakota State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • USAFA Very High
  • Dakota State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • USAFA Very High
  • Dakota State
  • ACT Range
  • USAFA 26/33
  • Dakota State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Dakota State 1190/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USAFA Required
  • Dakota State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026
  • Dakota State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Dakota State 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Dakota State
    • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USAFA -
  • Dakota State 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USAFA N/A
  • Dakota State $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USAFA -
  • Dakota State 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USAFA N/A
  • Dakota State $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USAFA N/A
  • Dakota State $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USAFA 70%
  • Dakota State 61%
  • % Women
  • USAFA 30%
  • Dakota State 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USAFA -
  • Dakota State Very Low
  • HBCU
  • USAFA No
  • Dakota State No
  • % White
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 84%
  • % Asian
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Black
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 4%
  • % Native American
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 3%
  • % International
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USAFA 0%
  • Dakota State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USAFA 6%
  • Dakota State 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USAFA 91%
  • Dakota State 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • USAFA Yes
  • Dakota State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • USAFA Yes
  • Dakota State No
  • Meal Plan
  • USAFA Yes
  • Dakota State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • USAFA No
  • Dakota State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • USAFA No
  • Dakota State No

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado with Dakota State University in Madison, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

United States Air Force Academy is larger than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (4,114 students vs. 3,774 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Air Force Academy is located in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting); Dakota State University is in Madison, SD (Distant Town setting).
  • United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dakota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Air Force Academy 7:1; Dakota State University 18:1.

USAFA vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between Dakota State University and USAFA ($9,654.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Dakota State and United States Air Force Academy ($12,756.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dakota State University than at United States Air Force Academy (88% vs. 0%).

USAFA vs. Dakota State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USAFA or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and USAFA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Air Force Academy (1340) is 20 points higher than at Dakota State (1320).
  • Incoming USAFA students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at Dakota State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440; Dakota State University 1190/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 26/33; Dakota State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USAFA - Required; Dakota State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman USAFA students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Dakota State (3.33).
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 78.5% at USAFA vs. 18% at Dakota State.

USAFA vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USAFA and Dakota State? 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).

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.