Dakota Wesleyan University
#7 Best Business Colleges in South Dakota- Graduation Rate
- 47% D+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $53,728 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,735 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 73% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Business Colleges in South Dakota.
Every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,100,163.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 32% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Dakota Wesleyan University Matters
Dakota Wesleyan University is a private college in Mitchell, SD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 670
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Dakota Wesleyan University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 73% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,735 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,728 ten years after enrolling — 32% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.70 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, is a solid choice for students who are looking for a close-knit community and a range of academic programs. With an enrollment of about 670 students and a 73% acceptance rate, this school tends to attract those who are seeking a supportive environment. Students can dive into top programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Visual & Performing Arts, making it a versatile option for various career paths.
As for what happens after graduation, the average earnings a decade down the line sit at $53,728. This figure gives a good sense of the potential return on investment for students who commit to their studies here. While the graduation rate is 47%, many graduates find their footing in the job market. Affordability plays a key role, too, as the net price after aid is around $19,735, which makes it accessible for a wide range of families.
Looking at the practical side of things, students who thrive here are often those who value personal connections and smaller class sizes. The median debt for graduates is $27,000, which is manageable for many, especially in light of their earnings potential. With 27% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial support is available for those who qualify, making Dakota Wesleyan a feasible option for students from various backgrounds.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Dakota Wesleyan University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dakota Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Dakota Wesleyan University, located in Mitchell, South Dakota, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 52%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,962
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.35
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 1,209
- Admitted
- 904
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dakota Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dakota Wesleyan University is $33,790, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,735. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,251 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $33,790
- Out-of-State
- $33,790
- Avg Net Price
- $19,735
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 73%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,251
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,750
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,927
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,416
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Dakota Wesleyan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Dakota Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $53,728, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,432
- 8 Years
- $51,754
- 10 Years
- $53,728
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (54)
- 39%
- 100% (54)
- 39%
- 100% (54)
- 39%
- 100% (54)
- 39%
How Dakota Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Dakota Wesleyan University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Dakota Wesleyan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,735/year ($78,940 total). Graduates earn $53,728 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,179,103 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,100,163 (14.9× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $78,940
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,179,103
- Net Return
- $1,100,163
- ROI Multiple
- 14.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,735
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,548,957
- Investment Income
- $-2,613,819
Top Programs
The fields Dakota Wesleyan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 29% $42,081 early-career
- Health Professions 24% $68,443 early-career
- Education 19% $50,050 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $46,778 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $33,292 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Psychology 1%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Dakota Wesleyan University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dakota Wesleyan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Dakota Wesleyan University, located in Mitchell, South Dakota, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dakota Wesleyan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dakota Wesleyan University is $33,790, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,735. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,251 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $53,728, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Dakota Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dakota Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Dakota Wesleyan University.
- Newman UniversityWichita, KS · Close peer53% grad $55,041 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Spring Hill CollegeMobile, AL · Close peer54% grad $51,500 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Clarke UniversityDubuque, IA · Close peer56% grad $55,396 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- LaGrange CollegeLagrange, GA · Close peer44% grad $51,745 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cleary UniversityHowell, MI · Close peer41% grad $54,186 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Elizabeth UniversityMorristown, NJ · Close peer46% grad $53,038 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Dakota Wesleyan University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dakota Wesleyan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note