Dakota State University — College Profile

About

Dakota State University is a specialized public institution renowned for its elite technology and cyber defense programs, anchored by the highly regarded Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences. Driven by a state-mandated focus on computing and technology, DSU distinguishes itself through prestigious National Security Agency cyber designations and advanced research facilities like the Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs). Campus life in Madison offers a tight-knit, collaborative environment where a tech-enthusiast student body engages heavily in applied research, collegiate esports, and hands-on competitions alongside traditional NAIA athletics.

Wikipedia:Dakota State University (DSU) is a public university in Madison, South Dakota, United States. The school was founded in 1881 as a normal school, or teacher training school. Education is still the university's heritage mission, but a signature mission of technology was added by the state legislature in 1984 to specialize in "programs in computer management, computer information systems, and other related undergraduate and graduate programs".

Location

Madison, SD, 57042-1799 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

OMA · Omaha

197 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$9,654$12,756

Housing & food (on campus)$9,742$9,742

Books & supplies$1,000$1,000

Cost of attendance$25,753$28,855 est.

Average net price$21,057Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$12,756

In-state: $9,654

Housing & food (on campus)$9,742

Books & supplies$1,000

Cost of attendance$28,855 est.

In-state: $25,753

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $21,057

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$17,317

$30–48k

$18,792

$48–75k

$19,165

$75–110k

$22,601

$110k+

$23,269

Your family's actual price → Dakota State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$5,688

Share of first-years who get one44%

Source: Dakota State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

50%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

34%

Back for yr 2

75%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

49% graduated · 26% transferred · 2% still enrolled · 24% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$46,146

10 yrs after entry$50,970

Debt

Median at graduation$23,500

Monthly payment$249

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$25.5k

90th percentile$34,938

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

88%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1215

R 570–680 · M 620–760

ACT midpoint

Comp 20–27 · E 18–25 · M 19–27

SAT middle 50%: 1190–1440

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

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

Student Body

Gender

Men 64%Women 36%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

18 : 1

Pell grant

17%

First-gen

28%

Family income

$50,856

Independent

35%

Age at entry

23.0

Part-time

23%

Race & ethnicity

White

74%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NAIA Division I · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Other Sports
Co-ed
Softball
Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
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

$46,146

After 10 yrs

$50,970

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management119

Computer and Information Sciences, General62

Computer Software and Media Applications30

Information Science/Studies19

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities19

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods17

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness17

Special Education and Teaching11

Mathematics10

Business Administration, Management and Operations10

Accounting and Related Services9

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas8

Marketing7

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations6

Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other5

Finance and Financial Management Services5

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$21M

Full-time faculty

75%

Faculty salary

$9,954/mo

Teaching spend

$8,768

per student

Federal loans

34%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (medium programs)

Research activity

R2 — high research

$6M research spending · 29 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions