Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #1025 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,979 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 73.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Dakota Wesleyan University sits in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Dakota Wesleyan University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and outcomes among nonprofit four-year institutions in South Dakota. The university delivers consistent financial results for graduates, particularly in its health-focused programs.
Azimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #1025 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Mitchell, South Dakota, Dakota Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 670 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where Dakota Wesleyan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #567 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,979 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dakota Wesleyan University in the 73.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in health-related fields, which consistently deliver strong early-career earnings and stable career pathways in a region where healthcare employers offer reliable hiring and wage growth. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Dakota Wesleyan University enrolls 27.1% Pell-eligible students and 28.9% first-generation undergraduates, placing the institution in the 12.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability index reflects the institution's tuition structure and financial aid reach, positioning Dakota Wesleyan University in the 47.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes rank in the 22.0 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's regional footprint and program mix shape career trajectories differently than institutions with broader national networks.
Dakota Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $43,864. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,251, middle-income families pay around $15,927, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,416. Azimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #752 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,191; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,461, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dakota Wesleyan University is a strong fit for students seeking a private nonprofit institution in SD with a focus on health-related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,461, placing Dakota Wesleyan University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure serves a mix of students — 27.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.9% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $22,416, with median federal debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix leans heavily toward Health (24% of degrees), and the regional labor market anchors earnings potential. Students whose interests align with these fields and who plan to work in Midwest will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Dakota Wesleyan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dakota Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $43,864. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,251, middle-income families pay around $15,927, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,416.
Azimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #752 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,191; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,461, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,461, placing Dakota Wesleyan University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,979 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dakota Wesleyan University in the 73.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dakota Wesleyan University #567 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures reflect the institution's focus on health-related fields, where employer demand and early-career compensation tend to support solid long-term financial outcomes.
The earnings pattern centers on health and allied health programs, which dominate Dakota Wesleyan's degree output. Nursing is the largest program with 40 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $76,515, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
Business Administration and Psychology, General follow as substantial cohorts, with Teacher Education and Criminal Justice rounding out the top five by scale. This concentration in health professions — aligned with Health as the institution's dominant family — creates a coherent earnings signature where graduates move into stable, in-demand roles with predictable compensation trajectories.
The program mix reflects Dakota Wesleyan's regional mission and employer partnerships in the upper Midwest, where health-care and allied-health sectors offer consistent hiring and advancement pathways.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Dubuque Similar quality tier in Midwest (#28219 ranked) | IA | 89% | $51,190 | #28219 | Compare |
New England Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#28212 ranked) | RI | 67% | $48,684 | #28212 | Compare |
Curry College Similar quality tier (#28211 ranked) | MA | 88% | $54,400 | #28211 | Compare |
University Of Sioux Falls Similar quality tier in Midwest (#28225 ranked) | SD | 83% | $54,521 | #28225 | Compare |
Alverno College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#28204 ranked) | WI | 86% | $53,145 | #28204 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
40 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
12 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
8 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
23 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
5 graduates
Dakota Wesleyan University anchors its program portfolio in health and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission and workforce alignment. Nursing is the largest program with 40 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Teacher Education, and Criminal Justice.
Across 11 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with Health representing 24% of the institution's degree output. Nursing leads the institution's earnings profile, with 40 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $76,515.
The program's scale and earnings strength position it as the institution's highest aggregate-return major [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The concentration in Health fields—which includes Nursing, Business Administration, and Psychology, General—reflects Dakota Wesleyan University's positioning as a health-focused regional institution.
These programs serve direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in nursing, allied health, and related clinical fields. Dakota Wesleyan University's program mix aligns with regional labor-market demand in healthcare and education sectors.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework shows sustained demand for nursing and health-related credentials in rural and small-metro markets, where Dakota Wesleyan University operates. As a smaller institution graduating roughly 135 students annually across 11 programs, the university maintains concentrated program depth rather than breadth, supporting employer visibility and alumni network density within regional healthcare systems and educational institutions.
