Comparison tool
Rankings across 8 publishers plus admissions, cost, debt and outcome data for Black Hills State University, Central State University, Dakota State University. Every figure is sourced and dated.
| Metric | Black HillsSpearfish, SD | Central StateWilberforce, OH | Dakota StateMadison, SD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 96.3% | 98.6% | 88.0% |
| SAT middle 50% | 965–1135 | Not reportedCentral State University reports that it neither requires nor recommends admissions test scores, and does not report a score range to the Department of Education. | 1190–1440 |
| Average net price | $15,91120.0% on Pell grants | $13,09652.7% on Pell grants | $21,05716.8% on Pell grants |
| Published tuition & fees | $8,764 in-state · $11,866 outMost recent reported academic year, College Scorecard June 2026 release | $8,058 in-state · $10,058 outMost recent reported academic year, College Scorecard June 2026 release | $9,654 in-state · $12,756 outMost recent reported academic year, College Scorecard June 2026 release |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.6% | 22.8% | 51.3% |
| First-year retention | 71.7% | 55.9% | 75.5% |
| Undergraduates on Pell grants | 20.0% | 52.7% | 16.8% |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,674 | $33,267 | $50,970 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $26,000 | $30,739 | $23,500 |
| Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | 19:1 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,928 | 2,620 | 2,071 |
| Consensus percentile | 74Lower is better | 71Lower is better | 70Lower is better |
| Methodology sensitivity | 57 ptsHow far published lists disagree, in percentile points | 38 ptsHow far published lists disagree, in percentile points | 69 ptsHow far published lists disagree, in percentile points |
Highlighted cells mark the most favourable value in that row where a direction is meaningful. No highlight appears for metrics like enrollment or SAT range, where “better” depends entirely on what you want.
“Not ranked by this source” means that publisher’s list does not include the school — not missing data and not a poor rank.
| Source | Black Hills | Central State | Dakota State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US News | #147 of 165Regional univ. (Midwest)Regional Universities (Midwest) · 2026 | #65 of 94Regional colleges (Midwest)Regional Colleges (Midwest) · 2026 | #91 of 165Regional univ. (Midwest)Regional Universities (Midwest) · 2026 |
| Forbes | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source |
| Washington Monthly | #1427 of 1,504Tuition & tax value (WM)Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars · 2026 | #1371 of 1,504Tuition & tax value (WM)Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars · 2026 | #1438 of 1,504Tuition & tax value (WM)Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars · 2026 |
| WSJ | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source | #492 of 500U.S. colleges (WSJ)Best Colleges in the U.S. · 2026 |
| Niche | #991 of 2,605Overall (Niche)Best Colleges (Overall) · 2026 | #1395 of 2,605Overall (Niche)Best Colleges (Overall) · 2026 | #767 of 2,605Overall (Niche)Best Colleges (Overall) · 2026 |
| Money | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source |
| Princeton Review | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source |
| QS | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source | Not ranked by this source |
Students comparing Black Hills State University on federal cost, completion, and earnings data who will layer in fit, location, and program strength separately.
This school may not appear on every publisher list we track; an empty rankings table means no tracked publisher ranked it, not missing federal data.
Full profileStudents comparing Central State University on federal cost, completion, and earnings data who will layer in fit, location, and program strength separately.
This school may not appear on every publisher list we track; an empty rankings table means no tracked publisher ranked it, not missing federal data.
Full profileStudents comparing Dakota State University on federal cost, completion, and earnings data who will layer in fit, location, and program strength separately.
This school may not appear on every publisher list we track; an empty rankings table means no tracked publisher ranked it, not missing federal data.
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