Quad
U. South Dakota
U. Maine

Key differences on Cost & aid

  1. 1

    U. Maine's grants cover 34% of its full price on average, vs. 19% at U. South Dakota

    Aid generosity
  2. 2

    U. South Dakota costs about $4.5K less per year on average than U. Maine ($20,435 vs. $24,967, all students)

    Average cost, all students

Cost & aid

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students
U. South Dakota$20.4K
U. Maine$25K
Aid generosity
U. South Dakota19%
U. Maine34%
Net price, with grants
U. South Dakota$19.1K
U. Maine$18.1K

Grants

First-years receiving grants
U. South Dakota84%
U. Maine98%
Average grant
U. South Dakota$5.6K
U. Maine$12.9K
Aid from the college
U. South Dakota74%
U. Maine97%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state
U. South Dakota$24.6K
U. Maine$28.6K
Sticker price, out-of-state
U. South Dakota$28.1K
U. Maine$51.3K
Tuition & fees, in-state
U. South Dakota$9.4K
U. Maine$12.6K
Tuition & fees, out-of-state
U. South Dakota$12.9K
U. Maine$35.3K
First-years paying out-of-state rates
U. South Dakota14%
U. Maine40%
What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

  • U. South DakotaLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • U. MainePublished data end at $110K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

MetricU. South DakotaU. Maine
Need-based aid up to Little need-based aid above $110KPublished data end at $110K
Merit for students without need ––
Published promise ––

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

MetricU. South DakotaU. Maine
Tuition guarantee NoNo
Promise program YesYes

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

MetricU. South DakotaU. Maine
Aid forms ––
Aid priority date or deadline April 1 (priority)–
Need met, first-years ––
Average aid package, first-years ––
College grant dollars given as merit ––
Aid for international students ––

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why