Dakota State University Acceptance Rate
Madison, South Dakota · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 988
- Admitted
- 967
- Yield
- 40.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Small sample: this rate is based on 988 applicants, so year-to-year swings can be large. Read it as approximate.
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Dakota State University's acceptance rate has risen from 84.2% in 2014–15 to 97.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 772 to 988 (+28%) over that period.
Its 97.9% rate makes Dakota State University more selective than about 4% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 11 tracked South Dakota schools, it is more selective than about 18%.
Dakota State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 40.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 772 | 650 | 84.2% | 291 |
| 2015–16 | 912 | 741 | 81.3% | 346 |
| 2016–17 | 921 | 761 | 82.6% | 329 |
| 2017–18 | 972 | 820 | 84.4% | 381 |
| 2018–19 | 1,056 | 879 | 83.2% | 405 |
| 2019–20 | 978 | 757 | 77.4% | 425 |
| 2020–21 | 712 | 595 | 83.6% | 383 |
| 2021–22 | 681 | 583 | 85.6% | 366 |
| 2022–23 | 882 | 696 | 78.9% | 372 |
| 2023–24 | 988 | 967 | 97.9% | 394 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 366 | 356 | 97.3% |
| Men | 608 | 597 | 98.2% |
| Unknown | 14 | 14 | 100% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 490–660 | 11% |
| SAT Math | 530–680 | |
| ACT Composite | 20–26 | 78% |
How Dakota State University 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 Dakota State University's acceptance rate?
Dakota State University's acceptance rate is 97.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (967 admitted of 988 applicants).
Is Dakota State University test optional?
Dakota State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Dakota State University?
Dakota State University received 988 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 967.
What SAT score do you need for Dakota State University?
Admitted students at Dakota State University typically scored 490–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 530–680 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Dakota State University getting harder to get into?
Dakota State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 84.2% in 2014–15 to 97.9% in 2023–24.
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: https://dsu.edu/.