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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology says yes to 79.9% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $72,257 median earnings.
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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology sits in Rapid City proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $95,639 four years out. 16.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,071 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 84.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1130 and 1320 — above the SD middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology received 1,539 applications and admitted 1,312 (85.3%), with 496 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1130–1320 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 560 | 610 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 570 | 620 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 26 | 29 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How South Dakota School of Mines and Technology compares
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | South Dakota median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 79.9% | 84.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,500 | $10,077 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $72,257 | $51,926 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: $72,257 median at year ten, versus $51,926 across South Dakota institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $10,500 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $14,900. For non-residents, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's $14,900 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 2,071 undergrads, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
52.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 47% don't — ask a South Dakota School of Mines and Technology tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $95,639 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $94,201 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,815 |
| Chemical Engineering | $90,845 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $88,904 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,350 |
| Civil Engineering | $80,613 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $75,779 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $48,069 |
Median earnings for these 9 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $72,257 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 14 additional South Dakota School of Mines and Technology programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1130–1320 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 79.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's acceptance rate?
85.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,312 admitted from 1,539 applicants.
How much does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology cost?
In-state tuition is $10,500; out-of-state students pay $14,900. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $72,257 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Dakota
- University of Sioux Falls — 82.9% admitted
- Dakota Wesleyan University — 73.4% admitted
- Augustana University — 67.8% admitted
- South Dakota State University — 98.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.