U of U vs South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Brookings, South Dakota, home to the University of Utah and South Dakota State University, respectively. These institutions, while sharing the common goal of providing quality education, offer distinct experiences. The University of Utah boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while South Dakota State University maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Explore their contrasting popular majors, ranging from Engineering and Business to Agriculture and Education, and discover the unique opportunities each university presents. Compare their graduation rates, indicative of their commitment to student success, and delve into the detailed comparison table to uncover further insights. Whether you seek a bustling urban setting or a charming college town, this side-by-side analysis will guide you towards the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() South Dakota State University |
![]() University of Utah |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Brookings, South Dakota | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 80.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 87.4% | 95.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
Undergraduate:
$55
Graduate:
$55
|
SAT range | 980 - 1220 | 1180 - 1390 |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | 22 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 3.0% | 13.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 86.0% | 54.0% |
Total number of applicants | 5,774 | 18,302 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,048 | 17,381 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,019 | 5,361 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 30.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$24,304
Out of state:
$27,814
|
In state:
$26,579
Out of state:
$46,031
|
Average net price | $17,859 | $12,972 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,773
Out of state:
$11,283
|
In state:
$7,749
Out of state:
$27,201
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,054
Meal plan:
$4,082
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,997
Meal plan:
$4,665
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $4,747 |
86.0%
Average amount $9,431 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $5,063 |
19.0%
Average amount $7,729 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $9,956 |
4.0%
Average amount $19,449 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
9,847
Men 45.2% Women 54.8% |
25,826
Men 51.8% Women 48.2% |
Graduate students |
1,618
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
8,638
Men 49.9% Women 50.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 39.6% |
International students | 5.1% | 8.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 4,488 | 6,250 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Utah California Colorado Idaho Washington |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 59.5% | 67.2% |
Dropout rate | 38.9% | 25.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Plant Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.













































































































































































