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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Overview

At a Glance

School type

Public, 4-year or above

School Size & Setting

Small | Urban

Students-to-Faculty Ratio

16:1

Religious affliation

Not applicable

General Information

Address

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

501 E Saint Joseph St, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701

See on Map
Phone

(605) 394-2511

Website
https://www.sdsmt.edu/

Mission Statement

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts in education and economic development. The School of Mines is dedicated to being the technological university of choice for undergraduate and graduate education of engineers and scientists with the leadership and professional skills to advance society.

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Mission Statement

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The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts in education and economic development. The School of Mines is dedicated to being the technological university of choice for undergraduate and graduate education of engineers and scientists with the leadership and professional skills to advance society.

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cost & financial aid

Annual tuition & fees

Undergraduate

In state

$10,440

Out of state

$14,860
Graduate

In state

$10,640

Out of state

$18,840

Financial Aid: Undergraduates

Received financial aid
94%
Type of aid % of students receiving aid Average amount
Federal grants 49.0% $3,428
State/local grants 20.0% $1,281
Institutional grants 75.0% $3,898
Loans 55.0% $7,854

Other Estimated Costs

Housing

$8,020 per year

Books & Supplies

$2,060 per year

Personal Expenses

$5,000 per year

Pay For College with ROTC

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Financial aid resources

Paying for college

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Academics

Most Popular Undergraduate majors

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering, General
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General
  • Industrial Engineering
Full List of Majors

Undergraduate Majors X

  • 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
    • Biotechnology
      • A program that focuses on the application of the biological sciences, biochemistry, and genetics to the preparation of new and enhanced agricultural, environmental, clinical, and industrial products, including the commercial exploitation of microbes, plants, and animals. Includes instruction in bioinformatics, gene identification, phylogenetics and comparative genomics, bioinorganic chemistry, immunoassaying, DNA sequencing, xenotransplantation, genetic engineering, industrial microbiology, drug and biologic development, enzyme-based production processes, patent law, biotechnology management and marketing, applicable regulations, and biotechnology ethics. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Computer and Information Sciences, General
      • A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGINEERING
    • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems and products such as integrated biomedical systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Chemical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Civil Engineering, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems; and environmental safety measures. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Computer Engineering, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical and electronic systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Mechanical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Metallurgical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of metal components of structural, load-bearing, power, transmission, and moving systems; and the analysis of engineering problems such as stress, creep, failure, alloy behavior, environmental fluctuations, stability, electromagnetic and thermodynamic characteristics, optimal manufacturing processes, and related design considerations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Mining and Mineral Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of mineral extraction, processing and refining systems, including open pit and shaft mines, prospecting and site analysis equipment and instruments, environmental and safety systems, mine equipment and facilities, mineral processing and refining methods and systems, and logistics and communications systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Industrial Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. Includes instruction in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Geological/Geophysical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and geological principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, including the geological evaluation of construction sites, the analysis of geological forces acting on structures and systems, the analysis of potential natural resource recovery sites, and applied research on geological phenomena. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
    • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
      • Instructional programs that prepare individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineering and related projects or to prepare for engineering-related fields. See other colleges that offer this major
  • LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES
  • 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
    • Computational and Applied Mathematics
      • A program that focuses on the application of a broad range of mathematical and computational methods to modeling, analysis, algorithm development, and simulation for the solution of complex scientific and engineering problems. Includes instruction in numerical analysis, discrete mathematics, operations research, optimization, differential equations, statistics, scientific computation, and applications to specific scientific and industrial topics. See other colleges that offer this major
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCES
    • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth's atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and related problems of environment and climate. Includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory; and studies of specific phenomena such as clouds, weather systems, storms, and precipitation patterns. 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
    • Geology/Earth Science, General
      • A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Physics, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods. See other colleges that offer this major

Most Popular Graduate programs

  • Civil Engineering, General
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Engineering/Industrial Management
  • Materials Engineering
Full List of Programs

Graduate ProgramsX

  • COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Artificial Intelligence
      • A program that focuses on the symbolic inference, representation, and simulation by computers and software of human learning and reasoning processes and capabilities, and the computer modeling of human motor control and motion. Includes instruction in computing theory, cybernetics, human factors, natural language processing, and applicable aspects of engineering, technology, and specific end-use applications. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGINEERING
    • Engineering, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce. Includes instruction in undifferentiated and individualized programs in engineering. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems and products such as integrated biomedical systems, instrumentation, medical information systems, artificial organs and prostheses, and health management and care delivery systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Chemical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes, such as chemical reactors, kinetic systems, electrochemical systems, energy conservation processes, heat and mass transfer systems, and separation processes; and the applied analysis of chemical problems such as corrosion, particle abrasion, energy loss, pollution, and fluid mechanics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Civil Engineering, General
      • A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems; and environmental safety measures. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical and electronic systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Materials Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings; the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites; analysis of materials requirements and specifications; and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Mechanical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Mining and Mineral Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of mineral extraction, processing and refining systems, including open pit and shaft mines, prospecting and site analysis equipment and instruments, environmental and safety systems, mine equipment and facilities, mineral processing and refining methods and systems, and logistics and communications systems. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Construction Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific, mathematical, and management principles to the planning, design, and building of facilities and structures. Includes instruction in civil engineering, structural principles, site analysis, computer-assisted design, geology, evaluation and testing, materials, contracting, project management, graphic communications, and applicable laws and regulations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Industrial Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. Includes instruction in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Geological/Geophysical Engineering
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and geological principles to the analysis and evaluation of engineering problems, including the geological evaluation of construction sites, the analysis of geological forces acting on structures and systems, the analysis of potential natural resource recovery sites, and applied research on geological phenomena. See other colleges that offer this major
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
    • Engineering/Industrial Management
      • A program that focuses on the application of engineering principles to the planning and operational management of industrial and manufacturing operations, and prepares individuals to plan and manage such operations. Includes instruction in accounting, engineering economy, financial management, industrial and human resources management, industrial psychology, management information systems, mathematical modeling and optimization, quality control, operations research, safety and health issues, and environmental program management. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Nanotechnology
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles and technical skills to manipulate matter at the atomic and molecular level (in the range of 1-100 nanometers) and to design, fabricate, and integrate nanoscale structures, devices, and systems. Includes instruction in materials science, thermodynamics, nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, and nano/micro device fabrication and testing. See other colleges that offer this major
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
    • Computational Science
      • A program that focuses on the study of scientific computing and its application. Includes instruction in scientific visualization, multi-scale analysis, grid generation, data analysis, applied mathematics, numerical algorithms, high performance parallel computing, and numerical modeling and simulation with applications in science, engineering and other disciplines in which computation plays an integral role. See other colleges that offer this major
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCES
    • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth's atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and related problems of environment and climate. Includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory; and studies of specific phenomena such as clouds, weather systems, storms, and precipitation patterns. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Paleontology
      • A program that focuses on the scientific study of extinct life forms and associated fossil remains, and the reconstruction and analysis of ancient life forms, ecosystems, and geologic processes. Includes instruction in sedimentation and fossilization processes, fossil chemistry, evolutionary biology, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, trace fossils, micropaleontology, invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany, field research methods, and laboratory research and conservation methods. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Physics, General
      • A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods. See other colleges that offer this major
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Admissions

Undergraduate acceptance rate

Acceptance rate
82.69%
  • Apply 1,514
  • Accepted 1,252
  • Attend 538

Application Fee

Undergraduate
$20
Graduate
$35

Undergraduate application requirements

  • High school transcript

    Required

  • High school GPA

    Not applicable

  • Recommendation letter

    Not applicable

  • Admissions test
    (SAT or ACT)

    Not applicable

  • TOEFL
    (international students)

    Required

  • Completion of college
    prep program

    Not applicable

  • Demonstration of
    competencies

    Not applicable

Average Test Scores

SAT Math
590-698
ACT Composite
23-29
SAT Reading
570-680
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Student Life

Student Demographics

Female Students
24%
Male Students
76%
Student Ethnicities
  1. Caucasian79.53%
  2. Two Or More Ethnicities8.28%
  3. Hispanic/Latino5.1%
  4. Not Specified3.41%
  5. Asian1.48%
  6. Black1.2%
  7. American Indian/Alaska Native0.96%
  8. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.04%

Student body breakdown

Total students enrolled

2,893

Undergraduate students

2,466

Graduate students

427

Full Time Students
78%
Part Time Students
22%

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
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
  • Soccer
  • Basketball
  • Golf
Female sports:
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Football
Full List of Athletics

Full List of Athletics X

    • Male

    • Football
    • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Golf

    • Female

    • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    • Volleyball
    • Basketball
    • Golf
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.