Dakota Wesleyan University

Dakota Wesleyan University is a private, religious school in a small town setting in Mitchell, South Dakota. Dakota Wesleyan University was founded in 1885 and now enrolls around 836 students a year, including 759 undergrads. Dakota Wesleyan University provides on-campus housing for up to 429 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 60% of students spend their weekends on campus .

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

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

There are no fraternities or sororities at Dakota Wesleyan University, so it might be a good choice if you're not interested in Greek life.

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

Learn more about life at Dakota Wesleyan University on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is August 27.

Is Dakota Wesleyan 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 school 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 closer look at each of these factors to get a better idea of what Dakota Wesleyan University offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.

2019 Acceptance Rate for Dakota Wesleyan University

It is moderately difficult to get into Dakota Wesleyan University. The acceptance rate at Dakota Wesleyan University is 73%. Last year, 659 students applied to Dakota Wesleyan University and 483 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Dakota Wesleyan 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.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Dakota Wesleyan University, around 67% come back the next year. Around 42% of students who started at Dakota Wesleyan University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. 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 Outlook Dakota Wesleyan University Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 95% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Dakota Wesleyan University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2019, the total market value of the school endowment was $20.9 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Dakota Wesleyan University spends about $5,526 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Dakota Wesleyan 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. Dakota Wesleyan University meets 58% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $21,889 a year.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $37,564 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

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

Some aid is available 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! You should never have to pay to submit 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 Dakota Wesleyan University. Based on this information, how does Dakota Wesleyan University sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Dakota Wesleyan University a good school for you?

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

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Where is Dakota Wesleyan University Located?

Dakota Wesleyan University is located in the small town setting of Mitchell, South Dakota.

If you want to see Dakota Wesleyan University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 90 to Mitchell, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Joe Foss Field.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell 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.