Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University is a public, state school in a small town setting in Spearfish, South Dakota. Black Hills State University was founded in 1883 and now enrolls around 3,608 students a year, including 3,413 undergrads. Black Hills State University offers on-campus housing for students.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Black Hills State University! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Black Hills State University's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Black Hills State University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? Black Hills State University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Black Hills State University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Black Hills State University on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Black Hills State University on the Student Life page.

2021 Black Hills State University Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate	84%
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	10%
In-State Tuition	$7,541
Out-of-State	$10,611
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$0

Is Black Hills State University a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how competitive a college is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a look at to get a clearer idea of what Black Hills State University offers and if it could be a good choice for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Black Hills State University

The acceptance rate at Black Hills State University is 84%. Last year, 2,362 students applied to Black Hills State University and 1,982 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Black Hills State University

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 65% of students who start at Black Hills State University come back the next year. Black Hills State University's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 40%. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Black Hills State University Grads

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Black Hills State University

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Black Hills State University. Based on this information, how does Black Hills State University sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Black Hills State University a good school for you?

If Black Hills State University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

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Where is Black Hills State University?

Black Hills State University is located in the small town setting of Spearfish, South Dakota.

If you want to see Black Hills State University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 90 (I-90 east- and west-bound) to Spearfish, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Rapid City Regional.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Black Hills State University and Spearfish are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in South Dakota?

See a full list of colleges in South Dakota and save your favorites to your college list.