South Dakota Mines Sees Little Enrollment Change for 2023-24 Academic Year
Academic credit hours at South Dakota Mines are up 120 hours compared to last year, resulting in an additional 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) students. The full-time equivalent number is based on 15 credit hours for undergraduates and 12 credit hours for master's and doctoral students each semester. Freshman to sophomore retention is at 83%, up from 82% a year ago. The total enrollment headcount stands at 2,492 students, which is down by just one from fall 2022. The number of first-time freshmen is 496, slightly lower than last year, which had the third largest freshman class in Mines history.
“We need great minds to help advance STEM across the nation, and great minds are choosing South Dakota Mines,” says President Jim Rankin, Ph.D., P.E. “We are proud to educate the future leaders in science and engineering. Our graduates are innovative thinkers and leaders who receive a world-class education at an affordable rate. We invite more students to discover their place here.”
South Dakota Mines graduates are highly sought after because of the curriculum and hands-on experiences in labs, industry-funded projects, research, co-ops and internships. Graduates staying in the state after earning their bachelor's degree has increased to nearly 40%. Recently, Mines was listed in the Wall Street Journal's 2024 Best Colleges in the United States as one of the top 10 most highly recommended schools by surveyed students and recent alumni, the only university in the state to make the list.
The most recent graduates earned an average starting salary of $70,036 and enjoyed a 98% placement rate in their field of study or graduate school. Those who completed an internship had a placement rate of 100% and an average starting salary of $72,458.
See more on university enrollment from the South Dakota Board of Regents.
###
Founded in 1885, South Dakota Mines is one of the nation's leading engineering, science and technology universities. South Dakota Mines offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a best-in-class education at an affordable price. The university enrolls 2,492 students with an average class size of 24. The South Dakota Mines placement rate for graduates is 98 percent, with an average starting salary of $70,036. For these reasons South Dakota Mines is ranked among the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.