USAFA vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Should I go to United States Air Force Academy or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USAFA or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 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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United States Air Force Academy vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology comparison
United States Air Force Academy South Dakota School of Mines and Technology College 3 College 4
United States Air Force Academy South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Overview

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Location USAFA, Colorado Rapid City, SD
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,085 2,492
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #362
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usafa.edu sdsmt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Tuition (In State) $0 $7,820
Tuition (Out of State) $0 $12,240
Room & Board $0 $8,020
Avg Net Price - $21,124
Avg Grant Aid $0 $5,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 90%

Admission

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,353 1,514
Admitted 1,356 1,252
Acceptance Rate 16.2% 82.7%
Enrolled % 77.9% 43%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 28/33 23/29
SAT Range 1310/1480 1160/1378
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 31, 2023 Feb 15, 2024

Academics

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (35%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Engineering (76%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduation Rate - 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments - 79%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $27,500
Median Loan Payment N/A $284

Diversity

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% Men 71% 76%
% Women 29% 24%
Racial Diversity - Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 0% 84%
% Black 0% 2%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
% In-State 5% 37%
% Out-of-State 93% 62%

Campus

USAFA South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • United States Air Force Academy is larger than than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology based on total student enrollment (4,085 students vs. 2,492 students)

USAFA vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USAFA or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is ?% more expensive to attend than USAFA for in-state tuition ($7,820.00 vs. $0.00)
  • Out of state tuition is ?% higher at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than United States Air Force Academy ($12,240.00 vs. $0.00)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than United States Air Force Academy (90% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students is ?% larger than aid received United States Air Force Academy ($5,431 vs. $0)

USAFA vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman USAFA students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (3.57)
  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a higher acceptance rate (82.7%) than USAFA (16.2%)

USAFA vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USAFA or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and USAFA.

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