Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Black Hills State University Featured Rankings
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in South Dakota
- #1 Best Small Colleges in South Dakota 2026
- #3 South Dakota's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #3 South Dakota's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #3 Best Colleges in South Dakota
- #3 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota 2026
- #3 Best Public Colleges in South Dakota 2026
About Black Hills State University
According to Wikipedia, Black Hills State University is a public university in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 4,000 students attend classes at its campus in Spearfish, with a satellite campus in Rapid City that is shared with South Dakota State University, and through distance offerings. Enrollment comes from 64 out of 66 counties in South Dakota, 43 states, and 29 countries. BHSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents.
Black Hills State University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,617 | 96% | 72% | 42% | 1050 | 21 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Black Hills State University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $9,014 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $16,385 |
| 30K - 48K | $15,530 |
| 48K - 75K | $17,710 |
| 75K - 110K | $21,151 |
| 110K+ | $23,029 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Black Hills State University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Black Hills State University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $49,283 a year, and 90% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Black Hills State University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 5,715 | 4,928 | 787 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University is located at 1200 University St, Spearfish, SD 57799-9500.
How Safe is Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University reported 0.6 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most midsize partly residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Black Hills State University has a violent crime rate of 0.06% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. Spearfish has a violent crime rate of 0.26% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 1.82%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Black Hills State University Known For?
Black Hills State University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Sociology
- Chemistry
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Education
- Communications
- Psychology
- Business
- Political Science
- Biology
- History
Black Hills State University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Black Hills State University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Black Hills State University ranks #647 in the U.S. and #2211 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #725 in the U.S. and #3331 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #864 in the U.S. and #2609 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #922 in the U.S. and #3648 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #958 in the U.S. and #3959 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #980 in the U.S. and #4233 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1225 in the U.S. and #4631 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1233 in the U.S. and #3238 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1276 in the U.S. and #4714 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1311 in the U.S. and #5629 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1345 in the U.S. and #5548 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesBlack Hills State University ranks #1466 in the U.S. and #4697 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesWho Are Black Hills State University's Most Influential Alumni?
Black Hills State University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Anthropology, Sociology, and Literature. Here are some of Black Hills State University's most famous alumni:
