How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admits about 79.9% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,140 and 1,340, and ACT scores typically fall between 24 and 30. Among enrolled undergraduates, 16.9% receive Pell Grants and 18.3% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is modest, at 15.2%. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #1279 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the institution's selective admissions funnel and its focus on engineering and technical fields, which naturally attracts a student body with stronger academic preparation. Retention of first-year students stands at 84.1%, and the six-year graduation rate is 52.9%, with 40.5% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. For graduates from low-income backgrounds, median earnings reach $52,600 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 78.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #932 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern reflects a selective institution with strong outcomes for the students it enrolls: low-income graduates who gain admission complete at high rates and earn among the strongest post-graduation outcomes in the country. However, the institution's narrower admission scale and engineering-focused mission limit how many low-income and first-generation students benefit from that pathway compared to broader-access institutions.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admits about 79.9% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,140 and 1,340, and ACT scores typically fall between 24 and 30. Among enrolled undergraduates, 16.9% receive Pell Grants and 18.3% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is modest, at 15.2%. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #1279 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the institution's selective admissions funnel and its focus on engineering and technical fields, which naturally attracts a student body with stronger academic preparation. Retention of first-year students stands at 84.1%, and the six-year graduation rate is 52.9%, with 40.5% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. For graduates from low-income backgrounds, median earnings reach $52,600 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 78.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #932 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern reflects a selective institution with strong outcomes for the students it enrolls: low-income graduates who gain admission complete at high rates and earn among the strongest post-graduation outcomes in the country. However, the institution's narrower admission scale and engineering-focused mission limit how many low-income and first-generation students benefit from that pathway compared to broader-access institutions.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admits about 79.9% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,140 and 1,340, and ACT scores typically fall between 24 and 30. Among enrolled undergraduates, 16.9% receive Pell Grants and 18.3% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is modest, at 15.2%. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #1279 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects the institution's selective admissions funnel and its focus on engineering and technical fields, which naturally attracts a student body with stronger academic preparation. Retention of first-year students stands at 84.1%, and the six-year graduation rate is 52.9%, with 40.5% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. For graduates from low-income backgrounds, median earnings reach $52,600 on a historical ten-year Scorecard measure, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 78.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #932 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern reflects a selective institution with strong outcomes for the students it enrolls: low-income graduates who gain admission complete at high rates and earn among the strongest post-graduation outcomes in the country. However, the institution's narrower admission scale and engineering-focused mission limit how many low-income and first-generation students benefit from that pathway compared to broader-access institutions.
