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SelectiveProfile current for 2026-2027

Dickinson State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 37%, Dickinson State University is a selective public university in North Dakota. Because it admits a minority of applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Dickinson State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Dickinson State University weighs, where it ranks among North 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.

Acceptance rate
37%
Selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1100
of admitted students
Type
Public
Dickinson, ND
Average net price
$14,092
per year after aid

What do students study at Dickinson State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 83 (35.6%)Education · 43 (18.5%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 19 (8.2%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 17 (7.3%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 16 (6.9%)Agriculture and Agricultural Operations · 13 (5.6%)Psychology · 10 (4.3%)

Will I get into Dickinson State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Dickinson State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Dickinson State University?

Dickinson State University admits roughly 37% of applicants, 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 Dickinson State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Dickinson State University hard to get into?

Dickinson State University is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 37% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Dickinson State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Dickinson State University, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Dickinson 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 Dickinson State University?

Dickinson 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 Dickinson State University.

Calculate your chances at Dickinson State University →

Your chances at Dickinson State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Dickinson State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Dickinson State University with a 3.5 GPA and a 1040 SAT?

About 50% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1040 SAT, the middle of Dickinson State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1100 SAT comes out near 68%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Dickinson State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 97025th pctSAT 1040middleSAT 110075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.922%Reach27%Target32%Target22%Reach
3.231%Target38%Target43%Target33%Target
3.543%Target50%Likely56%Likely48%Likely
3.855%Likely62%Likely68%Likely63%Likely

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/dickinson-state-university.

How to get into Dickinson State University

Built from Dickinson State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Dickinson State University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Dickinson State University carries about a 3.59 core GPA and a 1050 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Landing at or above it makes you competitive; the rest of the file decides.

Step 2
Build the file around what Dickinson State University weighs

Dickinson State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and state residency highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 3
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Dickinson State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.dickinsonstate.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Dickinson State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.dickinsonstate.edu ↗

How many students apply to Dickinson State University, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Dickinson State University received 831 applications and admitted 499, an acceptance rate of 60%. 226 enrolled. Roughly 45% of admitted students enrolled, a typical yield for a school in this range. Dickinson State University enrolls about 1,090 undergraduates in total, 55% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.

Applied
831
fall 2023
Admitted
499
60% of applicants
Enrolled
226
45% yield
Undergraduates
1,090
Dickinson, remote town

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Dickinson State University?

Dickinson State University reports that it neither requires nor recommends test scores, so admission turns on your transcript, rigor, and the rest of the file.

Test scores
Neither required nor recommended
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Dickinson State University looks for

What Dickinson State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Dickinson State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and state residency. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Dickinson State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Very important
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at Dickinson 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.

SATWhere it sits at Dickinson State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Dickinson State University cost after financial aid?

Dickinson State University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $20,567 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $9,118. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,092 a year, and it ranges from $10,479 for families earning under $30,000 to $16,922 for families earning over $110,000. 21% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$20,567
per year, before aid
Average net price
$14,092
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$9,118
$9,118 out of state
Pell recipients
21%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$10,479
$30k to $48k$8,094
$48k to $75k$12,985
$75k to $110k$15,484
Over $110k$16,922

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Dickinson State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Dickinson State University student who received federal aid earns $50,720 a year, up from $48,628 at six years. 51% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 67% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $18,442; 34% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$50,720
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
51%
within six years
Retention
67%
return for year two
Median debt
$18,442
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Dickinson State University compares in North Dakota

Dickinson State University ranks #1 most selective of 8 schools in North Dakota in our database.

Among the 8 North Dakota schools we track, Dickinson State University ranks the most selective by acceptance rate. Nothing else in the state is harder to get into; the next tier down includes Minot State University at 65%. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Minot State University
65%acceptance · ND
Mayville State University
71%acceptance · ND
Mary University
75%acceptance · ND
University of North Dakota
77%acceptance · ND
Bismarck State College
78%acceptance · ND
North Dakota State University
95%acceptance · ND
Valley City State University
99%acceptance · ND
See all North Dakota schools →

Similar to Dickinson State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Dickinson State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Clemson University, San Diego State University, and University of Georgia. 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.

Clemson University
38%acceptance · SC
San Diego State University
36%acceptance · CA
University of Georgia
38%acceptance · GA
Binghamton University
39%acceptance · NY
Southern University
35%acceptance · LA
University of Washington
39%acceptance · WA

Frequently asked questions

What is Dickinson State University's acceptance rate?

Dickinson State University admitted 499 of 831 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 60% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 45% of admitted students enrolled.

Is Dickinson State University test-optional?

Dickinson State University reports that it neither requires nor recommends test scores.

How much does Dickinson State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Dickinson State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $14,092 a year against a sticker price of about $20,567. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,479 on average.

What do Dickinson State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Dickinson State University are $50,720 a year among students who received federal aid, and 51% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Dickinson State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Dickinson State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and state residency most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Dickinson State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Dickinson State University?

As a public university, Dickinson 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.

Is Dickinson State University a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Dickinson State University's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.