Acceptance Rate and Application Statistics
The following table compares the admission related statistics including number of applicants, admitted, and enrolled between selected colleges. The average acceptance rate of selected colleges is 96.66% and the average admission yield (enrollment rate) is 28.39%.
Dakota State University has the tighest (lowest) acceptance rate of 88.05% and Northern State University has the highest yield (enrollment rate) of 35.25% among selected colleges. The numbers in parenthesis() in below table represent the number and rate by gender (men/women). The statistics is based on the latest data from IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education for academic year 2024-2025.
| Name | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled | Acceptance Rate | Enrollment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University | 2,418 (1,620/767) | 2,129 (1,426/678) | 383 (285/98) | 88% (88%/88%) | 18% (20%/13%) |
| Northern State University | 1,086 (446/640) | 1,010 (398/612) | 356 (147/209) | 93% (89%/96%) | 35% (37%/33%) |
| Oglala Lakota College | The school has an open admission policy. | ||||
| South Dakota State University | 7,287 (3,598/3,689) | 7,166 (3,526/3,640) | 2,441 (1,113/1,328) | 98% (98%/99%) | 34% (32%/36%) |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | The school has an open admission policy. | ||||
| University of South Dakota | 5,965 (2,424/3,541) | 5,892 (2,383/3,509) | 1,418 (511/907) | 99% (98%/99%) | 24% (21%/26%) |
| Average | 4,189 (2,022/2,022) | 4,049 (1,933/2,110) | 1,150 (514/636) | 96.66% (95.6%/104.3%) | 28.39% (26.6%/30.1%) |
SAT Scores Comparison
The average SAT score of selected colleges is 1179. By subject, the average score of the SAT EBRW(Evidence-based Reading and Writing) is 573 and the average SAT Math score is 606.
Dakota State University has the highest SAT scores of 1,320 and Northern State University has the lowest SAT scores of 1,060 among selected colleges. The following table compares SAT Scores between selected colleges for the academic year 2024-2025.
| Name | Submit%* (Submit#**) | SAT Total | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | Math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University | 16% (61) | 1320 | 620 | 700 |
| Northern State University | 2% (7) | 1060 | 530 | 530 |
| Oglala Lakota College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||
| South Dakota State University | 2% (45) | 1130 | 570 | 560 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||
| University of South Dakota | 4% (60) | 1205 | 570 | 635 |
| Average | 6.00% | 1179 | 573 | 606 |
ACT Scores Comparison
The average ACT score of selected colleges is 22. By subject, the average ACT English score is 21 and the ACT math score is 22.
The following table compares ACT Scores between selected colleges for academic year 2024-2025.
| Name | Submit%* (Submit#**) | Composite | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University | 67% (254) | 24 | 22 | 24 |
| Northern State University | 74% (264) | 21 | 20 | 20 |
| Oglala Lakota College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||
| South Dakota State University | 75% (1,828) | 22 | 21 | 23 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||
| University of South Dakota | 62% (877) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
| Average | 69.50% | 22 | 21 | 22 |
*Number of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students submitting SAT scores.
**Percent of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students submitting SAT scores.
Application Requirements
The following table list and compare the requirements when applying selected colleges based on academic year 2024-2025 data.
| Name | HS GPA | HS Rank | HS Record | Prep. Program | Rec. | Compe. | SAT/ACT | TOEFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✔ |
| Northern State University | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✔ |
| Oglala Lakota College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||||||
| South Dakota State University | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✔ |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | The school has an open admission policy. | |||||||
| University of South Dakota | ✓ | ✓ | ✔ | ✔ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✔ |
✔: Required △: Considered but not Required ✔: Recommended ✗: Neither Required nor Recommended
- HS GPA: High School or Secondary School GPA
- HS Rank: High School or Secondary School Rank
- HS Record: High School or Secondary School Record
- Prep. Program: Completion of College Preparatory Program
- Rec.: Recommendations
- Comp.: Formal demonstration of competencies (e.g., portfolios, certificates of mastery, assessment instruments)
Top Colleges By Subject
- Tightest Schools To Admit (Lowest Acceptance Rate)
- Affordable Schools To Admit (Highest Acceptance Rate)
- Most Favored Schools (Highest Yield)
- Colleges with Low Yield
- Expensive Colleges (Highest Tuition & Fees)
- Inexpensive Colleges (Lowest Tuition & Fees)
- Colleges with Most Students
- Colleges with Least Students
- Colleges with Most Online Students
- Colleges with Least Online Students
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rates
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rates
- Low Student to Faculty Ratio
- High Student to Faculty Ratio
*Number of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students submitting SAT scores.
**Percent of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students submitting SAT scores.