Students at South Dakota
Mines walk between classes. Enrollment at the university is largely unchanged
for this academic year, which stands at 2,492 students for the fall 2023
semester.
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.
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About
South Dakota Mines
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.