Quad

Head-to-head

U. South Dakota
North Dakota State

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    North Dakota State's yield is 13 pts higher than U. South Dakota's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    U. South Dakota is more diverse (index 0.41 vs. 0.30)

    Diversity index
  3. 3

    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
  4. 4

    North Dakota State graduates 10 pts more of its students than U. South Dakota (64% vs. 55%)

    Graduation rate
  5. 5

    North Dakota State has 1.7× as many undergrads as U. South Dakota

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    U. South Dakota has 7 pts more first-gen students than North Dakota State (24% vs. 17%)

    First-generation students

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

North Dakota State admits 95%, U. South Dakota 99%; North Dakota State's yield is higher, at 32%.

Acceptance rate
U. South Dakota99%
North Dakota State95%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. South DakotaOpen
  • North Dakota StateOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
U. South Dakota
1125–1315
North Dakota StateNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. South DakotaSchool record and prep program required38%
  • North Dakota StateGPA very important

Who's on each campus

North Dakota State has 1.7× as many undergrads as U. South Dakota and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. South Dakota5.4K
North Dakota State9.5K
Pell Grant share
U. South Dakota19%
North Dakota State20%

Majors and faculty

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse leads at both; U. South Dakota has 16 students per faculty member to North Dakota State's 19.

Students per faculty member
U. South Dakota16 to 1
North Dakota State19 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. South DakotaRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse9%
  • North Dakota StateRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse9%

What each costs

U. South Dakota costs about $2K less a year than North Dakota State on average; grants cover the same share of the price at both, 19%.

Average cost, all students
U. South Dakota$20.4K
North Dakota State$22.5K
Aid generosity
U. South Dakota19%
North Dakota State19%

What each pays off

North Dakota State's former students earn more, a median $62.2K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. South Dakota$51.9K
North Dakota State$62.2K
Graduation rate
U. South Dakota55%
North Dakota State64%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. South DakotaGrowing+68%
  • North Dakota StateGrowing+27%
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:University of South Dakota (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;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;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;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 2018;North Dakota State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;North Dakota State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;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