Key differences on Outcomes
- 1
North Dakota State grads earn $10.3K more ten years out than U. South Dakota's ($62,203 vs. $51,926)
Median earnings, 10 yrs - 2
North Dakota State graduates 10 pts more of its students than U. South Dakota (64% vs. 55%)
Graduation rate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Earnings and finishing
Median earnings, 10 yrs
U. South Dakota$51.9K
North Dakota State$62.2KHighest
Graduation rate
U. South Dakota55%
North Dakota State64%Highest
Retention rate
U. South Dakota77%
North Dakota State78%Highest
Borrowing
Median debt
U. South Dakota$23.6K
North Dakota State$23.2KLowest
Undergrads with a federal loan
U. South Dakota40%
North Dakota State52%
Median debt, Pell Grant recipients
U. South Dakota$19K
North Dakota State$18.7KLowest
Eight-year outcomes
Credential within 4 years, all students
U. South Dakota41%
North Dakota State46%
Credential within 8 years, all students
U. South Dakota53%
North Dakota State63%
Enrolled at another college, 8 years on
U. South Dakota27%
North Dakota State24%
Graduation by group
Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients
U. South Dakota48%
North Dakota State55%
Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan
U. South Dakota69%
North Dakota State68%
Pell graduation gap
U. South Dakota21 pts lower
North Dakota State13 pts lower
Graduated in 6 years, by race and ethnicity
| Group | U. South Dakota | North Dakota State |
|---|---|---|
| White | 63% | 66% |
| Asian | Not shown: under 30 students | 50% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 41% | 49% |
| Black | 38% | 46% |
| Two or more races | 53% | 46% |
| International | Not shown: under 30 students | Not shown: under 30 students |
Sources:College Scorecard, most recent release;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About 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