Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Public · 4-year

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Sources and reporting periods

Reporting periods: Admission counts and rate: IPEDS Admissions component, fall 2023 entering class. Graduation rate: IPEDS Graduation Rates component, six-year cohort. Score, cost, aid and earnings fields: historical imports without a retained reporting year. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

No current testing-policy source review is available for this campus.

Application deadlines · countdown

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Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

Black Hills State University reported a 94.4% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. Black Hills State University is a public 4-year institution in Spearfish, SD, with an SAT reference of 1060 and an ACT reference of 21. The historical average net price is $15,911 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

94.4%

1,617 applicants

SAT reference

1060

Combined score

ACT reference

21

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$15,911

After financial aid

SAT & ACT Scores at Black Hills State University

Historical score references from imported federal records for enrolled first-year score submitters. The SAT total references are a sum of section values, not observed total-score percentiles. The reference midpoint column is not a verified median, and none of these values is an admission cutoff. Reporting years are unavailable for these fields.

Test25th percentileReference midpoint75th percentile
SAT (total, 400–1600)—10601135
ACT (composite, 1–36)182123

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

40.5%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

71.7%

Median Earnings (10yr)

$46,674

Student Body

1,928

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at Black Hills State University, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$11,863
$30,001 – $48,000$13,379
$48,001 – $75,000$15,588
$75,001 – $110,000$18,072
$110,000+$18,604

Top Majors at Black Hills State University

MajorDegrees Awarded
Business, Management & Marketing65
Education53
Psychology30
Parks, Recreation & Fitness28
Visual & Performing Arts28
Public Administration & Social Services20
Biological & Biomedical Sciences18
Social Sciences17
Liberal Arts & General Studies14
English Language & Literature11

Financial Aid at Black Hills State University

About Black Hills State University

Official website: https://www.bhsu.edu/

Admissions: https://www.bhsu.edu/Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Hills State University

What is the acceptance rate at Black Hills State University?

Black Hills State University reported a 94% acceptance rate to IPEDS for the fall 2023 entering class. the reported applicant count is about 1,617. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into Black Hills State University?

The historical 94% acceptance rate suggests Black Hills State University was less selective at the campus level in the stored data. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Black Hills State University?

The imported historical records for Black Hills State University include an SAT reference value of 1060 and an ACT reference value of 21. Reference values may be derived from reported score ranges; they are not verified medians or required cutoffs. Federal score ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Verify current testing requirements on the college's official admissions page.

How much does it cost to attend Black Hills State University?

The stored historical average net price at Black Hills State University is $15,911 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 90%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $5,158 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at Black Hills State University?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for Black Hills State University is 40%. its stored first-year retention rate is 72%; stored median earnings 10 years after enrollment are $46,674. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is Black Hills State University test-optional?

Stored testing policy: test-optional. Current-cycle policy has not been verified. Check the university's official first-year admission requirements, applicant type, intended major and scholarship conditions before deciding which scores to send.

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