Black Hills State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Spearfish, South Dakota. It enrolls 1,928 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes27
Value59
Affordability44
Selectivity15
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.3%, Black Hills State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
965 – 1135
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Black Hills State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Black Hills State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,911 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,911
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,764
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,866
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,160
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,018
Books & Supplies
$1,092
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,674
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,674
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,277
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,863
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,379
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,588
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,072
Over $110,000
$18,604
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,12510%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$38,53090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,628
↓ $7,372
No Pell $11,000
↓ $15,000
Dependent students $13,750
↓ $12,250
Independent students $19,000
↓ $7,000
Female students $15,489
↓ $10,511
Male students $13,504
↓ $12,496
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at Black Hills State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Black Hills State University earn a median of $46,674 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,674
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,000, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Black Hills State University is home to 1,928 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,928
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
28%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 67.2%1,295
Hispanic 5.2%101
Other 5.2%100
Black 1.5%29
International 1.5%29
Asian 0.6%12
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Black Hills State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantSpearfish, South Dakota
Housing
Mostly residential836 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Black Hills State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Black Hills State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,235
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$20M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,995
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
107 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
28%
$94,334
Associate Professors
22
21%
$69,629
Assistant Professors
26
24%
$70,487
Instructors
23
21%
$54,716
Lecturers
6
6%
$59,587
Pros & Cons of Black Hills State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Black Hills State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Black Hills State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Black Hills State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Black Hills State University.
Is Black Hills State University hard to get into?
Black Hills State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University has an acceptance rate of 96.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Black Hills State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Black Hills State University scored between 965 and 1135 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Black Hills State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Black Hills State University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Black Hills State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Black Hills State University is $15,911 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Black Hills State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,674 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,911 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Black Hills State University known for?
Black Hills State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Black Hills State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Black Hills State University are $46,674, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Black Hills State University accredited?
Yes. Black Hills State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University enrolls 1,928 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Black Hills State University a public or private college?
Black Hills State University is a Public institution.
Where is Black Hills State University located?
Black Hills State University is located in Spearfish, South Dakota.
What programs does Black Hills State University offer?
Black Hills State University offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Black Hills State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Black Hills State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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