South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$19,815
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$16,705
$30k - $48k
$16,736
$48k - $75k
$19,754
$75k - $110k
$21,542
$110k+
$21,141
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$10,440
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$14,860
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$8,020
Books and Supplies
$2,060
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
71%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
20%
Average Aid Per Year
$5,743
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
20%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,654
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$4,264
Students receiving state aid
26%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$1,207
Students receiving federal aid
38%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,654
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$4,876,747
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$716,137

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
55%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$8,038
Students receiving federal loans
54%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,069
Average Other Loans Per Year
$11,844
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$19,500
Loan Default Rate
4%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$258

What Students Are Saying

My deciding factor was that other universities offering the same major were twice (sometimes three times) as much. The school offers a lot of major-based scholarships but really is not that expensive at all. Given the majors available (engineering and science) student loans would not be very difficult to pay off a year or two after graduation. They have a few job fairs every year with recruiters from companies that are hiring engineers and scientists. Most students have great job offers way before graduation.
Rebecca from Rapid City, SD
The school is extremely competitive with the larger universities such as Iowa State University.
Joseph from Elkhorn, NE
The credibility of this school is undeniable, with the experienced professors and constant innovation from within. Comparing this to other technology and science schools, the cost of SDSM&T is incredibly lower, giving students the ability to be well prepared for their prospective futures at a low and reasonable cost.
Patrick from Aurora, CO
School of Mines has a BIG name for a little price. At under 20 grand a year, School of Mines easily halves the prices of bigger colleges, yet, when you throw a graduate from Mines up against a graduate from the Air Force Academy, your employer has a hard choice ahead of him. Mines has the absolute best name out there for the lowest price possible.
Paul B. from Spearfish, SD
This school is an excellent deal for the return you get out of it. It's even ranked as one of the best for its tuition in the US annually. It's especially great when compared to other Schools of Mines, like Colorado's, which charges a ton for in state students and a completely unreasonable amount if you're from out of state.
Beth from Colorado Springs, CO
SDSMT's tution rates are among the lowest in the country. Major employers seek out interns and graduates from this school from all over the world.
John from Evergreen, CO
Seriously this school is the best bang for the buck. Tuition may be a little more pricey if you are out of state but for the type of starting salary you are looking at it really is nothing. We have a really high placement rate and there is a career fair twice a year where you can get internships and jobs. This really is the best school to go to for science and engineering as we have all the connections of other schools at a lower price.
Anonymous
SDSM&T has been rated as one of the nations top one hundred buys. The cost is very reasonable considering the exceptional placement rate for graduates. Many local companies look forward to hiring graduates and other employment opportunities are also available.
Matthew from Hill City, SD