Quad

Head-to-head

Nichols
U. Sioux Falls

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Sioux Falls costs about $11.3K less per year on average than Nichols ($22,304 vs. $33,603, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  2. 2

    Nichols has 7 pts more first-gen students than U. Sioux Falls (32% vs. 25%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Nichols's grants cover 43% of its full price on average, vs. 36% at U. Sioux Falls

    Aid generosity
  4. 4

    Nichols grads earn $3.5K more ten years out than U. Sioux Falls's ($58,063 vs. $54,521)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    U. Sioux Falls has 3 pts more Pell recipients than Nichols (29% vs. 26%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  6. 6

    Nichols is more diverse (index 0.45 vs. 0.42)

    Diversity index

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Nichols admits 81%, U. Sioux Falls 83%; Nichols's yield is higher, at 18%.

Acceptance rate
Nichols81%
U. Sioux Falls83%
Quad's selectivity
  • NicholsAccessible
  • U. Sioux FallsAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
Nichols
1028–1236
U. Sioux FallsTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • NicholsGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • U. Sioux FallsGPA required

Who's on each campus

Nichols and U. Sioux Falls are about the same size; U. Sioux Falls has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Nichols1.2K
U. Sioux Falls1.2K
Pell Grant share
Nichols26%
U. Sioux Falls29%

Majors and faculty

Business/Commerce leads at Nichols, and Business Administration and Management at U. Sioux Falls; Nichols has 15 students per faculty member to U. Sioux Falls's 18.

Students per faculty member
Nichols15 to 1
U. Sioux Falls18 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • NicholsBusiness/Commerce, General22%
  • U. Sioux FallsBusiness Administration and Management, General17%

What each costs

U. Sioux Falls costs about $11.3K less a year than Nichols on average; Nichols's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Nichols$33.6K
U. Sioux Falls$22.3K
Aid generosity
Nichols43%
U. Sioux Falls36%

What each pays off

Nichols's former students earn more, a median $58.1K ten years after enrolling; both graduate at least 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Nichols$58.1K
U. Sioux Falls$54.5K
Graduation rate
Nichols60%
U. Sioux Falls62%

How each has changed

Applications grew at U. Sioux Falls but held steady at Nichols; U. Sioux Falls got more selective while Nichols got less.

Applications, 10-year change
  • NicholsSteady−7%
  • U. Sioux FallsGrowing+54%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About 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