Dakota Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Mitchell, South Dakota. It enrolls 670 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes32
Value51
Affordability43
Selectivity43
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.4%, Dakota Wesleyan University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dakota Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dakota Wesleyan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,735 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,735
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
73%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$33,790
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,000
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,850
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,864
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,251
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,750
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,927
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,048
Over $110,000
$22,416
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,73010%percentile
$8,25025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,215
↓ $6,785
No Pell $17,557
↓ $9,443
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $18,924
↓ $8,076
Female students $20,000
↓ $7,000
Male students $15,250
↓ $11,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $53,728 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,728
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,900, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
1.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dakota Wesleyan University is home to 670 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
670
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.2%537
Hispanic 7.0%47
Other 6.6%44
International 3.4%23
Black 2.1%14
Asian 0.5%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dakota Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMitchell, South Dakota
Housing
Strongly residential512 beds for 670 students
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Dakota Wesleyan University offers
a varied set of programs:
29 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota Wesleyan University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$68M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,148
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
45 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
16
36%
$63,453
Associate Professors
10
22%
$65,561
Assistant Professors
14
31%
$58,572
Instructors
3
7%
$58,603
Lecturers
2
4%
$42,500
Pros & Cons of Dakota Wesleyan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dakota Wesleyan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Dakota Wesleyan University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota Wesleyan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dakota Wesleyan University.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University hard to get into?
Admissions at Dakota Wesleyan University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 73.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Dakota Wesleyan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Dakota Wesleyan University is $19,735 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,728 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,735 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dakota Wesleyan University known for?
Dakota Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Business & Management, Other, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dakota Wesleyan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dakota Wesleyan University are $53,728, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University accredited?
Yes. Dakota Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University enrolls 670 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University a public or private college?
Dakota Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Dakota Wesleyan University located?
Dakota Wesleyan University is located in Mitchell, South Dakota.
What programs does Dakota Wesleyan University offer?
Dakota Wesleyan University offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business & Management, Other, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota Wesleyan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota Wesleyan University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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