Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD 57301-4398
About Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a private research university in Mitchell, South Dakota, enrolling about 670 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 73.38% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,728 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Dakota Wesleyan University charges 15% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($33,790).
- Versus the South Dakota median, sticker tuition is about 3.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 48.32%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $53,728.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Dakota Wesleyan University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 581% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Wesleyan University | $33,790 | $19,735 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,845 | $15,911 | 19 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 42% below published tuition at Dakota Wesleyan University
Key findings
- Dakota Wesleyan University's average net price ($19,735) is 42% below published tuition ($33,790).
- Dakota Wesleyan University charges 15% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($33,790).
- Versus the South Dakota median, sticker tuition is about 3.8×.
Dakota Wesleyan University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $33,790
Finding Dakota Wesleyan University charges 15% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $33,790. That is 15% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the South Dakota median ($8,845), sticker tuition is about 3.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Dakota Wesleyan University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Dakota Wesleyan University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Dakota Wesleyan University is $19,735.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,735 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,824 above the South Dakota median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,764 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Dakota Wesleyan University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 42% lower after grants and scholarships.
Dakota Wesleyan University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Dakota Wesleyan University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$33,790
Avg. net price
$19,735
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $15,251 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,750 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,927 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,048 |
| $110,001+ | $22,416 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $135,160. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Dakota Wesleyan University is known for
Top program completions
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other46
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse42
- Business Administration and Management, General19
- Elementary Education and Teaching13
- Education, General10
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 22% of admitted students enrolled.
- Midpoint ACT: 22
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Dakota Wesleyan University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Dakota Wesleyan University.
Campus
Location
Mitchell, SD
City / state
- ZIP
- 57301-4398
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 32% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
670
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 832
- Graduate
- 121
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 27.12%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Dakota Wesleyan University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Dakota Wesleyan University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Dakota Wesleyan University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $22,700 | $22,700 | $16,484 |
| 2014 | $23,650 | $23,650 | $17,186 |
| 2015 | $24,800 | $24,800 | $19,203 |
| 2016 | $26,050 | $26,050 | $18,878 |
| 2017 | $27,030 | $27,030 | $20,336 |
| 2018 | $27,640 | $27,640 | $22,388 |
| 2019 | $28,750 | $28,750 | $21,574 |
| 2020 | $29,770 | $29,770 | $20,929 |
| 2021 | $30,880 | $30,880 | $21,847 |
| 2022 | $31,890 | $31,890 | $22,931 |
| 2023 | $32,890 | $32,890 | $19,300 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Midpoint 22 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Dakota Wesleyan University reported total enrollment of about 670 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (80.2%), Hispanic or Latino (7.0%), and Two or More Races (5.2%). About 27.12% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 28.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Dakota Wesleyan University in 2024 is 670 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 832 students. Graduate enrollment is about 121 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
43.15% 100% Completion Time
48.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 43.15% of students graduating from Dakota Wesleyan University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other: 70% male / 30% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 7% male / 93% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 74% male / 26% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Dakota Wesleyan University graduates earn a median of $53,728 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Dakota Wesleyan University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $53,728. Median federal loan debt: $27,000. Average net price used in cost models: $19,735.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Dakota Wesleyan University graduates report median earnings of $53,728 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Dakota Wesleyan University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (31 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Dakota Wesleyan University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Dakota Wesleyan University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Dakota Wesleyan University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$37.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Dakota median 1.1× the median ($34M)
- Plains median 1.6× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($26.4M)
- South Dakota median 2.0× the median ($25,074)
- Plains median 3.3× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 4.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 52.2%
- South Dakota median 13.4 pp below median (65.7%)
- Plains median 12.5 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 5.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,962
- South Dakota median near the median ($7,234)
- Plains median near the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 0.91× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,028
- South Dakota median 0.94× the median ($7,480)
- Plains median 0.86× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Dakota Wesleyan University at a glance
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a private non-profit institution in Mitchell, SD, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian80.2%Hispanic or Latino7.0%Two or More Races5.2%
Schools near Dakota Wesleyan University
Other campuses in Mitchell, SD when available, plus nearby institutions in South Dakota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within South Dakota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dakota Wesleyan University located?
Dakota Wesleyan University is located in Mitchell, SD.
What is Dakota Wesleyan University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Dakota Wesleyan University is 73.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,153 applicants and 839 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Dakota Wesleyan University's tuition?
Dakota Wesleyan University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $33,790 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,735 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Dakota Wesleyan University cost?
Reported tuition is $33,790 and average net price is $19,735 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,100 annually.
Why is Dakota Wesleyan University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Dakota Wesleyan University, published tuition is $33,790 while average net price is $19,735—about 42% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Dakota Wesleyan University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,735), completion (48.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($53,728). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 832 students, White (80.2%), Hispanic or Latino (7.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Dakota Wesleyan University?
About 28.9% of students at Dakota Wesleyan University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Dakota Wesleyan University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Dakota Wesleyan University reports midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn?
Median earnings are $49,432 six years after entry and $53,728 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Dakota Wesleyan University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Dakota Wesleyan University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.