skip to main content
MENU

Black Hills State University

Overview

At a Glance

School type

Public, 4-year or above

Faculty

203 Faculty Members | 27:01:00 student faculty ratio

Religious affliation

Not applicable

General Information

Address

Black Hills State University

1200 University St, Spearfish, South Dakota 57799

See on Map
Phone

(800) 255-2478

Website
www.bhsu.edu/

Mission Statement

Black Hills State University will be recognized as an innovative, high-quality university in the Black Hills region, the state, the nation and the world.

Read More

Mission Statement

×

Black Hills State University will be recognized as an innovative, high-quality university in the Black Hills region, the state, the nation and the world.

No Information for this section

cost & financial aid

Annual tuition & fees

Undergraduate

In state

$8,916

Out of state

$12,018
Graduate

In state

$8,916

Out of state

$15,849

Financial Aid: Undergraduates

Received financial aid
94%
Did not receive aid
6%
Type of aid % of students receiving aid Average amount
Federal grants 80.0% $3,009
State/local grants 13.0% $1,386
Institutional grants 54.0% $2,989
Loans 60.0% $6,660

Pay For College with ROTC

Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) is a college scholarship program that prepares students to become military officers

Learn More About ROTC

Financial aid resources

Paying for college

Learn about different ways to cover costs, incluing financial aid, GI Bills, grants and scholarships

Applying for financial Aid

Review this step-by-step guide on everything you need to do to complete your application.

No Information for this section

Academics

Most Popular Undergraduate majors

  • Business Administration and Management, General
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
  • Psychology, General
Full List of Majors

Undergraduate Majors X

  • AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES
    • American Indian/Native American Studies
      • A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian and other native peoples of the Americas from earliest times until the present, with particular emphasis on U.S. and Canadian populations and their problems but including reference to Caribbean and Latin American native peoples. See other colleges that offer this major
  • BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
    • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
      • A general program of biology at the introductory, basic level or a program in biology or the biological sciences that is undifferentiated as to title or content. Includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations. See other colleges that offer this major
  • BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Business Administration and Management, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Accounting
      • A program that prepares individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
    • Tourism and Travel Services Management
      • A program that prepares individuals to manage travel-related enterprises and related convention and/or tour services. Includes instruction in travel agency management, tour arranging and planning, convention and event planning, travel industry operations and procedures, tourism marketing and promotion strategies, travel counseling, travel industry law, international and domestic operations, and travel and tourism policy. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. Includes instruction in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labor relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources law and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General
      • A program that focuses on the general process and techniques of direct wholesale and retail buying and selling operations and introduces individuals to related careers. Includes instruction in the principles of entrepreneurial economics, basic sales skills, the distribution channels for goods and services, and supervised practical application experiences. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
    • Mass Communication/Media Studies
      • A program that focuses on the analysis and criticism of media institutions and media texts, how people experience and understand media content, and the roles of media in producing and transforming culture. Includes instruction in communications regulation, law, and policy; media history; media aesthetics, interpretation, and criticism; the social and cultural effects of mass media; cultural studies; the economics of media industries; visual and media literacy; and the psychology and behavioral aspects of media messages, interpretation, and utilization. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other
  • EDUCATION
    • Special Education and Teaching, General
      • A general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that may prepare individuals to function as special education teachers in a collaborative or team environment. Includes instruction in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counseling, and applicable laws and policies. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Elementary Education and Teaching
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the elementary grades, which may include kindergarten through grade eight, depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all elementary education subject matter. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the middle, intermediate or junior high grades, which may include grades four through nine by regulation. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students in formal settings prior to beginning regular elementary school, usually ranging in age from three to six years (or grade one), depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all relevant subject matter. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art Teacher Education
    • Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach vocational business, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs at various educational levels. Includes instruction in business administration, business development, finance, idea generation, investing, logistics, management, and marketing. See other colleges that offer this major
    • English/Language Arts Teacher Education
    • Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
    • Mathematics Teacher Education
    • Music Teacher Education
    • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
    • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach general science programs, or a combination of the biological and physical science subject matter areas, at various educational levels. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Social Science Teacher Education
    • Biology Teacher Education
    • Chemistry Teacher Education
    • History Teacher Education
    • Spanish Language Teacher Education
    • Speech Teacher Education
    • Teacher Assistant/Aide
      • A program that prepares individuals to assist a teacher in regular classroom settings or in providing instruction and supervision to special student populations, such as bilingual/bicultural students, special education students, adult learners, and students learning English. Includes instruction in techniques of general classroom supervision, maintaining order, assisting with lessons and carrying out related assignments. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
    • Industrial Technology/Technician
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of industrial engineers and managers. Includes instruction in optimization theory, human factors, organizational behavior, industrial processes, industrial planning procedures, computer applications, and report and presentation preparation. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to the identification and resolution of production problems in the manufacture of products. Includes instruction in machine operations, production line operations, engineering analysis, systems analysis, instrumentation, physical controls, automation, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), manufacturing planning, quality control, and informational infrastructure. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS
    • English Language and Literature, General
      • A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Rhetoric and Composition
      • A program that focuses on the humanistic and scientific study of rhetoric, composition, literacy, and language/linguistic theories and their practical and pedagogical applications. Includes instruction in historical and contemporary rhetoric/composition theories; composition and criticism of written, visual, and mixed-media texts; analysis of literacy practices in cultural and cross-cultural contexts; and writing program administration. See other colleges that offer this major
  • FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS
    • Spanish Language and Literature
      • A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in philology; Modern Castillan; Latin American and regional Spanish dialects; and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings. See other colleges that offer this major
  • HISTORY
    • History, General
      • A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration. See other colleges that offer this major
  • LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
      • A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs. See other colleges that offer this major
    • General Studies
  • MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
    • Mathematics, General
      • A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, FITNESS, AND KINESIOLOGY
    • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
      • A program that focuses on the principles underlying recreational and leisure activities, and the practices involved in providing indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and services for the general public. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
      • A general program that focuses on activities and principles that promote physical fitness, achieve and maintain athletic prowess, and accomplish related research and service goals. Includes instruction in human movement studies, motivation studies, rules and practice of specific sports, exercise and fitness principles and techniques, basic athletic injury prevention and treatment, and organizing and leading fitness and sports programs. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply business, coaching and physical education principles to the organization, administration and management of athletic programs and teams, fitness/rehabilitation facilities and health clubs, sport recreation services, and related services. Includes instruction in program planning and development; business and financial management principles; sales, marketing and recruitment; event promotion, scheduling and management; facilities management; public relations; legal aspects of sports; and applicable health and safety standards. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Outdoor Education
      • A program that prepares individuals to work as an educator, instructor or facilitator in parks, recreational facilities, camps and other outdoor settings. Includes instruction in leadership skills, wilderness survival skills, first aid, group processes, counseling techniques, environmental studies and instruction in recreational activities such as rock climbing, ropes courses, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCES
    • Physical Sciences, General
      • A program that focuses on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena as studied in any combination of physical science disciplines. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Chemistry, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Physical Sciences, Other
  • PSYCHOLOGY
    • Psychology, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS
    • Community Organization and Advocacy
      • A program that focuses on the theories, principles, and practice of organizing and providing services to communities. May prepare individuals to apply such knowledge and skills in community service positions. See other colleges that offer this major
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
    • Social Sciences, General
      • A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Political Science and Government, General
      • A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Sociology, General
      • A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems. See other colleges that offer this major
  • VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
    • Commercial and Advertising Art
      • A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Graphic Design
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. Includes instruction in computer-assisted art and design, printmaking, concepts sketching, technical drawing, color theory, imaging, studio technique, still and life modeling, multimedia applications, communication skills and commercial art business operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Photography
      • A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, and digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Art/Art Studies, General
      • A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. Includes instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Fine/Studio Arts, General
      • A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, color theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Music, General
      • A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media. See other colleges that offer this major

Most Popular Graduate programs

  • Secondary Education and Teaching
  • Organizational Behavior Studies
  • Reading Teacher Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Sustainability Studies
Full List of Programs

Graduate ProgramsX

  • BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
    • Molecular Genetics
      • A program that focuses on the scientific study of genetic structures and mechanisms of organisms, including bacteria, phages, and viruses. Includes instruction in the replication, expression, transfer, structure, maintenance, and stability of heritable information in DNA, RNA, and proteins; the regulation of these processes; and neurogenetics. See other colleges that offer this major
  • BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Business Administration and Management, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Organizational Behavior Studies
      • A program that focuses on the scientific study of the behavior and motivations of individuals functioning in organized groups, and its application to business and industrial settings. Includes instruction in organization theory, industrial and organizational psychology, social psychology, sociology of organizations, reinforcement and incentive theory, employee relations strategies, organizational power and influence, organization stratification and hierarchy, leadership styles, and applications of operations research and other methodologies to organizational analysis. See other colleges that offer this major
  • EDUCATION
    • Curriculum and Instruction
      • A program that focuses on the curriculum and related instructional processes and tools, and that may prepare individuals to serve as professional curriculum specialists. Includes instruction in curriculum theory, curriculum design and planning, instructional material design and evaluation, curriculum evaluation, and applications to specific subject matter, programs or educational levels. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Special Education and Teaching, General
      • A general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that may prepare individuals to function as special education teachers in a collaborative or team environment. Includes instruction in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counseling, and applicable laws and policies. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Secondary Education and Teaching
      • A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the secondary grades, which may include grades seven through twelve, depending on the school system or state regulations. May include preparation to teach a comprehensive curriculum or specific subject matter. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Reading Teacher Education
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
    • Sustainability Studies
      • A program that focuses on the concept of sustainability from an interdisciplinary perspective. Includes instruction in sustainable development, environmental policies, ethics, ecology, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, economics, natural resources, sociology, and anthropology. See other colleges that offer this major
No Information for this section

Admissions

Undergraduate acceptance rate

Acceptance rate
97.25%
  • Apply 1,382
  • Accepted 1,344
  • Attend 452

Application Fee

Undergraduate
$20
Graduate
$35

Undergraduate application requirements

  • High school transcript

    Required

  • High school GPA

    Required

  • Recommendation letter

    Not applicable

  • Admissions test
    (SAT or ACT)

    Not applicable

  • TOEFL
    (international students)

    Not applicable

  • Completion of college
    prep program

    Required

  • Demonstration of
    competencies

    Not applicable

Average sat scores

Half of the freshman class scored within these ranges. 25% scored lower and 25% scored higher. 2020 data.

Math
Reading

Average act scores

Half of the freshman class scored within these ranges. 25% scored lower and 25% scored higher. 2020 data.

Composite
No Information for this section

Student Life

Student Demographics

Female Students
63%
Male Students
37%
Student Ethnicities
  1. Caucasian83.22%
  2. Two Or More Ethnicities4.89%
  3. Not Specified4.55%
  4. Hispanic/Latino3.45%
  5. American Indian/Alaska Native1.92%
  6. Black0.99%
  7. Asian0.9%
  8. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.08%

Student body breakdown

Total students enrolled

5,529

Undergraduate students

5,047

Graduate students

482

Attendance breakdown

Full time
49%
Part time
51%

Student services

  • Meal plan
  • Counseling services
  • Remedial services
  • Work-study
  • Placement services
  • Study abroad
  • Weekend/evening classes
  • On-campus day care for student's children

Top five largest sports teams

Male sports:
  • Football
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball
  • Soccer
  • Basketball
Female sports:
  • All Track Combined
  • Soccer
  • Lacrosse
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
Full List of Athletics

Full List of Athletics X

    • Male

    • Football
    • All Track Combined
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Tennis
    • Rifle

    • Female

    • All Track Combined
    • Soccer
    • Lacrosse
    • Volleyball
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Rifle
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.