South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, South Dakota · Public · 2,071 undergraduates · sdsmt.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test flexible
SAT, ACT or other exams
Admit rate
80%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1140 to 1340
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$29,220Est.Estimate
$34,350 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
80% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$34,350
a year in 2027-28, from a $34,350 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1240
Send your score
About 13% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1100, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test flexible
You can send SAT or ACT scores or other exams, like AP or IB results, instead.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- College algebra readiness may instead be shown by completing a college math course (Intermediate Algebra or higher) or a qualifying Accuplacer score; admission itself is based on HS GPA 2.75+ or GED, or South Dakota Regents' Scholar status
Source: Admissions Requirements · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
80%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1140 to 1340
Reading and Writing 560 to 660
Math 580 to 680
ACT composite 24 to 30
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$29,220
a year, in state
$34,350
a year, out of state (tuition $17,580)
- Tuition (in state)$12,450
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,800
- $30,001 to $48,000$16,817
- $48,001 to $75,000$18,351
- $75,001 to $110,000$22,117
- Over $110,000$23,053
Financial aidEstimate
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
84%
of freshmen receive grants
$5,334
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
South Dakota programs for residents
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
$1,500 to $3,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Option 1 (ACT 24 + curriculum/GPA); Advanced Honors Endorsement with 3.0 unweighted GPA, OR required HS courses (SDCL 13-55-31.1) with no final grade below C and cumulative 3.0 GPA
- 1310+ SAT or 28+ ACT, Option 2 (ACT 28, no curriculum/GPA requirement); None beyond test (no curriculum or GPA requirement per BOR)
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
After college
Graduate within 6 years
52%
Come back for a second year
84%
Typical earnings
$78,487
a year, 10 years after starting here
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology$90,120
- All colleges$97,556
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 8 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology logo is a trademark of the college.