University of Sioux Falls
#1 Best Bachelor's Programs in South Dakota- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,521 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,383 D+
- 25% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 83% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Bachelor's Programs in South Dakota.
Every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,227,092.
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 34% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Sioux Falls Matters
University of Sioux Falls is a private university in Sioux Falls, 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 52
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose University of Sioux Falls
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
Accessible — admits about 83% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,383 a year after grants and scholarships — 25% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,521 ten years after enrolling — 34% above the typical college, against $23,249 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 50% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 1,200 students, the University of Sioux Falls is an appealing choice for individuals looking for a close-knit community. The school's acceptance rate of 83% suggests that it welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it a good fit for students who appreciate personalized attention. Popular fields of study here include Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education, and Communications, providing various pathways for students based on their interests and career goals.
Looking at life after graduation, students from the University of Sioux Falls can expect to earn an average of $54,521 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure is significant when considering that graduates typically move into stable careers, especially in growing fields like health and education. With 29% of students receiving Pell Grants, there’s a recognition of the need for financial support, making it a more affordable option for many.
When we talk about the financial aspects, the net price after aid sits at $21,383, which is reasonable for a private institution. The median debt of $23,249 indicates that while there is some borrowing, it’s manageable for most graduates. Students who thrive here tend to be those who value community and support, particularly in programs that lead to fulfilling careers in service-oriented fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Sioux Falls 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 University of Sioux Falls? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, University of Sioux Falls admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,056
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 2,358
- Admitted
- 1,791
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 University of Sioux Falls? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Sioux Falls is $21,750, 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 $21,383. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,145 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,249 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $21,750
- Out-of-State
- $21,750
- Avg Net Price
- $21,383
- Median Debt
- $23,249
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 67%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,145
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,804
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,992
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,038
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Sioux Falls Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Sioux Falls earn a median of $54,521, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,712
- 8 Years
- $51,245
- 10 Years
- $54,521
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (109)
- 46%
- 100% (109)
- 46%
- 100% (109)
- 46%
- 100% (109)
- 46%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Sioux Falls Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Sioux Falls delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,383/year ($85,532 total). Graduates earn $54,521 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,312,624 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,227,092 (15.3× your investment). The median debt is $23,249, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $85,532
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,312,624
- Net Return
- $1,227,092
- ROI Multiple
- 15.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,383
- Median Debt
- $23,249
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Sioux Falls Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Sioux Falls is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.46%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 20.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $78,600
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,511,467
- Investment Income
- $1,242,942
Top Programs
The fields University of Sioux Falls awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 20%
- Health Professions 19%
- Psychology 11%
- Education 8%
- Communications 8%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Social Sciences 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Sioux Falls'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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Sioux Falls? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, University of Sioux Falls admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Sioux Falls? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Sioux Falls is $21,750, 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 $21,383. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,145 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,249 in federal student loans.
Is University of Sioux Falls Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Sioux Falls earn a median of $54,521, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of Sioux Falls Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Sioux Falls is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Sioux Falls? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Sioux Falls. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Sioux Falls.
- Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA · Close peer64% grad $59,274 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NE · Close peer64% grad $52,415 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OK · Close peer65% grad $54,655 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, IA · Close peer57% grad $60,787 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Transylvania UniversityLexington, KY · Close peer71% grad $54,705 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rivier UniversityNashua, NH · Close peer55% grad $52,248 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Sioux Falls? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Sioux Falls. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note