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Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Town · 1,928 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$15,911
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
40%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
50% typical
$46,674
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$48,772 typical
96%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
77% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Founded as a teachers' college, Black Hills State University is a comprehensive regional institution best known for strong programs in education, business, exercise science, and the natural sciences. The university sets itself apart with distinctive academic opportunities, including a premier Outdoor Education degree and hands-on subterranean research partnerships at the nearby Sanford Underground Research Facility. Campus culture is tight-knit, welcoming, and energetically outdoors-focused, offering students immediate access to hiking, rock climbing, and skiing within the surrounding Black Hills National Forest.

Wikipedia:Black Hills State University (BHSU) is a public university in Spearfish, South Dakota, United States. Close to 4,000 students attend classes at its 123-acre (50 ha) campus in Spearfish, with a satellite campus in Rapid City which is shared with South Dakota State University, and through distance offerings. BHSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Location
Spearfish, SD, 57799-9500 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
DEN · Denver
323 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$8,764$11,866
Housing & food (on campus)$12,160$12,160
Books & supplies$1,092$1,092
Cost of attendance$21,277$21,892
Average net price$15,911Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$11,866
In-state: $8,764
Housing & food (on campus)$12,160
Books & supplies$1,092
Cost of attendance$21,892
In-state: $21,277
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $15,911
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.bhsu.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Black Hills State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$12,496
Housing$4,338
Food$4,100
Books & supplies$958
Total published by the school$21,892
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$11,863
$30–48k
$13,379
$48–75k
$15,588
$75–110k
$18,072
$110k+
$18,604
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
40%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
29%
Back for yr 2
72%
Transferred
0%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
43% graduated · 31% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 25% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$38,927
10 yrs after entry$46,674
Debt
Median at graduation$26,000
Monthly payment$276
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$26k
90th percentile$38,530
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
96%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1087
R 465–565 · M 500–570
ACT midpoint
21
Comp 18–24 · E 17–23 · M 16–24
SAT middle 50%: 965–1135
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Black Hills State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 34%Women 66%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
20%
First-gen
28%
Family income
$51,046
Independent
28%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
19%
Race & ethnicity
White
67%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Non-resident
2%
AI/AN
3%
Unknown
19%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Women's
  • Other Sports
    Women's
  • Rodeo
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$38,927
After 10 yrs
$46,674
Business Administration, Management and Operations82
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods41
Biology, General27
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness26
Community Organization and Advocacy21
Psychology, General20
English Language and Literature, General16
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas14
History14
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities10
Outdoor Education10
Film/Video and Photographic Arts10
Communication and Media Studies9
Sociology9
Mathematics8
Political Science and Government8
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$24M
Full-time faculty
66%
Faculty salary
$8,430/mo
Teaching spend
$6,388
per student
Federal loans
28%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (small programs)
Research activity
Research college or university
$3M research spending
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

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