PublicFour-year

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Highest award: Graduate degree

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Net price (avg)
$15,911
Academic year 2023-24
In-state tuition
$8,764
Academic year 2024-25
Graduation rate
42.6%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Median earnings (10 yr)
$46,674
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars

Read the years, not just the numbers

Each figure below is labelled with the period it covers, because they are not all from the same year. Tuition is Academic year 2024-25, while the earnings figure describes students who entered Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars. They are historical facts about this institution, not a quote for you.

What it actually costs

Net price is what students paid after grant and scholarship aid — usually far below the sticker price.

Total cost of attendance
$21,277
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees (in state)
$8,764
Academic year 2024-25
Tuition & fees (out of state)
$11,866
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (on campus)
$12,160
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (off campus)
$13,018
Academic year 2024-25
Books & supplies
$1,092
Academic year 2024-25

Average net price by family income

Academic year 2023-24

$0–30,00011,863
$30,001–48,00013,379
$48,001–75,00015,588
$75,001–110,00018,072
$110,001+18,604

Figures are U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data for Academic year 2023-24, published by the U.S. federal government. They are historical reference values, not a quote, and not an offer. Your actual cost will depend on your own circumstances.

This college’s official net price calculator ↗

Outcomes

Historical results for students who attended. They do not predict your own.

Graduation rate (150% time)
42.6%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Graduation rate (200% time)
45.3%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Retention (full-time)
71.7%
Fall 2023 cohort
Median earnings (6 yr)
$38,927
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Median earnings (10 yr)
$46,674
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Loan default rate (3 yr)
0.0%
FSA FY2022 cohort
Median debt of completers
$26,000
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Median debt monthly payment
$275.64
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Repayment rate (3 yr)
62.1%
NSLDS FY2013/14 cohort

Compared with a high-school graduate

Students here earned a median of $46,674 ten years after entering, against a national benchmark for high-school graduates of $36,082. That benchmark is 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, 2024 dollars.

Admissions and size

Many institutions do not report these — “Not reported” is not a zero.

Admission rate
96.3%
Fall 2024
Average SAT (equivalent)
1,087
Fall 2024
ACT 25th–75th percentile
18–24
Fall 2024
Undergraduate enrollment
1,928
Fall 2024
Student-faculty ratio
17:1
Fall 2024
First-generation share
28.4%
Fall 2024
Pell grant recipients
20.0%
Academic year 2023-24
Federal loan recipients
27.6%
Academic year 2023-24
Median family income
$51,046
AY2022-23 (median family income)

Student body

Fall 2024

White67%
Hispanic5%
Black2%
Asian1%
Two or more races2%
Nonresident / international2%

Other Four-year institutions in SD

Peer institutions
InstitutionNet priceGrad rateEarnings (10 yr)
Augustana UniversityNot reported73.0%$59,217
California Intercontinental UniversityNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Dakota State University$21,05751.3%$50,970
Dakota Wesleyan UniversityNot reported48.3%$53,728
Kairos UniversityNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Mount Marty UniversityNot reported52.4%$48,179
National American University-Rapid CityNot reported0.0%$37,325
Northern State University$15,81248.9%$47,618
Oglala Lakota College$1,8958.7%$22,517
Sinte Gleska University$12,76815.4%$20,948
Sisseton Wahpeton College$2,97720.6%$31,546
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology$20,18352.9%$72,257

Earnings by field of study

Four years after graduation, by programme. Compare each against the national median for that field.

Earnings by field of study
ProgrammeMedian earnings (4 yr)National medianMedian debt
Human Resources Management and Services.$73,150$83,558Not reported
Accounting and Related Services.$69,079$76,194Not reported
Biology, General.$60,349$44,758$14,625
Business Administration, Management and Operations.$59,626$68,257$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.$57,025$59,916Not reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness.$55,622$54,562$24,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.$53,793$63,707Not reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.$52,883$51,389Not reported
Curriculum and Instruction.$51,881$63,399Not reported
Sociology.$51,562$50,205Not reported
Sociology.$49,833$52,657$37,329
Special Education and Teaching.$48,332$50,499$26,812
Communication and Media Studies.$45,937$43,761Not reported
Communication and Media Studies.$45,537$56,359Not reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.$44,958$47,382$26,312
Community Organization and Advocacy.$42,781$51,936$31,500
Psychology, General.$42,417$50,706$27,187
Biology, General.$40,967$57,214$26,613
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.$40,193$44,125Not reported
Design and Applied Arts.$29,733$51,490Not reported

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10) — https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ · Data last updated 2026-06-10