Black Hills State University Acceptance Rate
Spearfish, South Dakota · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,617
- Admitted
- 1,527
- Yield
- 32%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Black Hills State University's acceptance rate has held roughly steady at 94.4% (94.1% in 2014–15, 94.4% in 2023–24). Applications grew from 1,356 to 1,617 (+19%) over that period.
Its 94.4% rate makes Black Hills State University more selective than about 11% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 11 tracked South Dakota schools, it is more selective than about 27%.
Black Hills State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 32% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,356 | 1,276 | 94.1% | 510 |
| 2015–16 | 1,385 | 1,164 | 84% | 520 |
| 2016–17 | 1,611 | 1,285 | 79.8% | 564 |
| 2017–18 | 1,693 | 1,472 | 86.9% | 555 |
| 2018–19 | 1,858 | 1,641 | 88.3% | 489 |
| 2019–20 | 2,129 | 1,787 | 83.9% | 521 |
| 2020–21 | 1,119 | 1,087 | 97.1% | 437 |
| 2021–22 | 1,382 | 1,344 | 97.3% | 452 |
| 2022–23 | 1,579 | 1,526 | 96.6% | 481 |
| 2023–24 | 1,617 | 1,527 | 94.4% | 489 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,091 | 1,027 | 94.1% |
| Men | 526 | 500 | 95.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18–23 | 73% |
How Black Hills State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Black Hills State University's acceptance rate?
Black Hills State University's acceptance rate is 94.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,527 admitted of 1,617 applicants).
Is Black Hills State University test optional?
Black Hills State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University received 1,617 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,527.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.bhsu.edu/.