- Acceptance rate: 80% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 560–660 reading and writing, 580–680 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 24–30 composite
- Average net price: $20,243 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what South Dakota School of Mines and Technology reported: an acceptance rate of 80% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 24–30.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology reviews each application.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology GPA requirements
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology acceptance rate
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admitted 1,250 of 1,565 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 80%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public 4-year college in Rapid City, South Dakota, with 2,216 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 560 | 600 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 580 | 630 | 680 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 26 | 30 |
| ACT English | 21 | 24 | 28 |
| ACT Math | 24 | 27 | 29 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1245 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What South Dakota School of Mines and Technology looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $20,243 a year at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admitted 80% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Can I get into South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admitted 80% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
It's one factor among several: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology requires high school record. It considers high school GPA, college preparatory program, essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology require the SAT or ACT?
No. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 25% sent SAT scores and 79% sent ACT scores.
How many applicants get into South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's acceptance rate was 80% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,250 of 1,565 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What are South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 560–660 in reading and writing and 580–680 in math; ACT composite 24–30, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
How much does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $20,243 a year at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
Yes. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology consider legacy status?
No. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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