Black Hills State University acceptance rate and admissions profile
With an acceptance rate near 96%, Black Hills State University is an accessible public university in South Dakota. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.
Use this page to see what Black Hills State University weighs, where it ranks among South Dakota schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into Black Hills State University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Black Hills State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University admits most qualified applicants (around 96%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Black Hills State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is Black Hills State University hard to get into?
Black Hills State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 96% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into Black Hills State University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at Black Hills State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Black Hills State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Black Hills State University.
What Black Hills State University looks for
What Black Hills State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
In its review, Black Hills State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Black Hills State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at Black Hills State University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Black Hills State University compares in South Dakota
Black Hills State University ranks #8 most selective of 10 schools in South Dakota in our database.
Among the 10 South Dakota schools we track, Black Hills State University ranks #8 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Mount Marty University (43%) and Augustana University (68%) sit nearby, which makes South Dakota a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to Black Hills State University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Build around Black Hills State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Austin Peay State University, Marshall University, and Troy University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Black Hills State University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Black Hills State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does Black Hills State University favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, Black Hills State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at Black Hills State University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Black Hills State University specifically.
How does residency affect admission to Black Hills State University?
As a public university, Black Hills State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
What are the admission requirements for Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.