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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

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About South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Look up from campus and you'll spot M Hill, a long-running student tradition that hints at the school's grit. South Dakota Mines is known for strength in engineering, earth science, computing, and materials. Students log time in labs, maker spaces, and field sites, and a campus museum adds real specimens to the mix. Support stays practical with tutoring, advising, career coaching, and chances to jump into research.

Life here is active and unpretentious. Project teams, clubs, and athletics sit alongside weekends in the Black Hills hiking or climbing. The culture favors teamwork and get-it-done problem solving, and it's friendly. Employers in energy and tech recruit on campus, so internships and co-ops are common. Rapid City brings trails, galleries, and community service close to class.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location
501 E Saint Joseph St, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701, USA
Website
sdsmt.edu
Unit ID
219347

Academic & Institutional

Control
Public institution (funded by state or local government)
Accreditation
HLC
Length of Study
Programs under 2 years (e.g. certificate or diploma)
Calendar System
Semester system (two main terms per year)
Award Levels
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
Campus Setting
Located in a small city (population under 100,000)
Carnegie Classification
Master's - Medium programs
Tuition & Fees
In-State
$10,400
Tuition $7,800 + Fee $2,600
Out-of-State
$14,800
Tuition $12,200 + Fee $2,600
Student Profile
Total Students 2,492
Undergraduate 2,042
Graduate/Other 450
Male: 1,904 Female: 588
Applications
Total Applicants 1,539
Admitted 1,312
Enrolled 496
Acceptance: 85.3% Yield: 37.8%
Staff
Total Staff 458
Full-time 374
Part-time 84
Full-time: 81.7% Part-time: 18.3%

Academic Programs & Fields of Study

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology offers 30 degree programs across 9 major academic fields, graduating approximately 496 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Engineering (13 programs, 365 graduates), Computer & IT (2 programs, 42 graduates), Physical Sciences (5 programs, 33 graduates), Eng. Technologies (2 programs, 15 graduates) and Interdisciplinary (2 programs, 13 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.

Engineering (13 programs, 365 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Mechanical Engineering 93
Bachelor's
Master's
14.1901
Civil Engineering 48
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
14.0801
Industrial Engineering 42
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
14.3501
Chemical Engineering 36
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
14.0701
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 32
Bachelor's
Master's
14.1001
Metallurgical Engineering 29
Bachelor's
14.2001
Mining and Mineral Engineering 23
Bachelor's
Master's
14.2101
Biomedical Engineering 22
Bachelor's
Master's
14.0501
Geological and Geophysical Engineering 16
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
14.3901
Computer Engineering 10
Bachelor's
14.0901
Construction Engineering 9
Master's
Post-Master's
14.3301
Materials Engineering 4
Master's
14.1801
General Engineering 1
Master's
14.0101
Computer & IT (2 programs, 42 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Computer and Information Sciences 35
Bachelor's
11.0101
Artificial Intelligence 7
Master's
11.0102
Physical Sciences (5 programs, 33 graduates)
Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences Research
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Geology and Earth Science 10
Bachelor's
40.0601
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology 8
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
40.0401
Physics 8
Bachelor's
Master's
40.0801
Chemistry 4
Bachelor's
Master's
40.0501
Paleontology 3
Master's
40.0604
Eng. Technologies (2 programs, 15 graduates)
Applied Engineering Technologies and Technical Support
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Industrial Engineering Management 12
Master's
15.1501
Nanotechnology 3
Master's
Doctorate (R)
15.1601
Interdisciplinary (2 programs, 13 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Multi- and Interdisciplinary Studies 12
Bachelor's
30.9999
Data Science 1
Doctorate (R)
30.7001
Biological Sciences (2 programs, 12 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Biology and Biological Sciences 11
Bachelor's
26.0101
Biotechnology 1
Bachelor's
26.1201
Health (1 programs, 7 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene 7
Post-Master's
51.2206
Mathematics (2 programs, 6 graduates)
Mathematical Sciences, Statistics and Computational Analysis
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Mathematics 5
Bachelor's
27.0101
Applied Mathematics 1
Bachelor's
27.0304
Liberal Arts (1 programs, 3 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
General Studies 3
Associate's
24.0102

Admission Requirements & Test Scores

Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Application Requirements

Secondary School Rank
Neither required nor recommended
Secondary School Record
Required
Recommendations
Neither required nor recommended
Formal Demonstration of Competencies
Neither required nor recommended
English Proficiency Test (TOEFL)
Required
Standardized Test Scores
SAT Scores
The SAT is a standardized college admission test measuring reading, writing, and math skills. Scores range from 400-1600 (combined Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math sections).
Composite Score Range
1130 - 1320
25th-75th percentile
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 560 - 650
Median: 610
Math 570 - 670
Median: 620
ACT Scores
The ACT is a standardized test for college admissions assessing English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Scores range from 1-36 (composite of all sections).
Composite Score Range
23 - 29
25th-75th percentile
English 21 - 28
Median: 24
Math 24 - 29
Median: 27

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$26,100
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$30,500
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$10,400
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$14,800
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$8,800 (on) / $11,700 (off)
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$1,900
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$5,000
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$5,000
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$8,500
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$14,600
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

24%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$4,746
Avg. Loan
$7,924
Avg. Federal Loan
$5,028
Additional
Students with Any Grant
434
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
283
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
93
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$3,565
Average amount of institutional grant awarded

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

58%
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
84%
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
$46,211 – $101,142
Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile, 10 Years)
$46,211 (25th %) $101,142 (75th %)
*Median Salary After 10 Years: $72,257
Median Salary After 6 Years
$62,863
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$72,257
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
78.9%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
95.7%
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$27,000
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Low 72.6%
Middle 80.5%
High 82.1%
Repayment by Dependency
Dependent 81.0%
Independent 69.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

How much does it cost to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

The annual tuition at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $10,400 for in-state students and $14,800 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $26,100 for in-state students and $30,500 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $8,800 (on) / $11,700 (off) and books and supplies $1,900.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology offer?

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology offers 30 academic programs across 9 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research).

Most popular program areas include:

  • Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (13 programs)
  • Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity (2 programs)
  • Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences Research (5 programs)
  • Applied Engineering Technologies and Technical Support (2 programs)
  • Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs (2 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What is the acceptance rate for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has an 85.3% acceptance rate and a 37.8% yield rate, making it moderately selective.

Admission statistics breakdown:

  • Total applicants: 1,539
  • Students admitted: 1,312
  • Students enrolled: 496

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology provides financial aid to 24% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $4,746 and average loans of $7,924.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $4,828
  • State/Local grants: $1,285
  • Institutional grants: $3,565
  • Federal loans: $5,028

The university supports 434 students with grants and 283 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates?

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates earn a median salary of $62,863 after 6 years and $72,257 after 10 years.

The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $46,211 (25th percentile) to $101,142 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $103,200 (90th percentile).

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

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