Head-to-head comparison
Dakota State University vs Dakota Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Madison, SD
Dakota State University
- Net price / year
- $21,057
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,970
- Payback
- 32.3 yrs
Option B Mitchell, SD
Dakota Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $19,735
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,728
- Payback
- 14.7 yrs
Dakota Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,940 in 14.7 years versus 32.3 years at Dakota State University, on median earnings of $53,728 vs $50,970 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dakota State University | Dakota Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,057 | $19,735 |
| Total net cost | $84,228 | $78,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,970 | $53,728 |
| Median debt | $23,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 32.3 yrs | 14.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$32,028 | $28,420 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dakota State University or Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota Wesleyan University, at $19,735 a year after aid versus $21,057 — a gap of $1,322 a year, or $5,288 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Dakota State University or Dakota Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Dakota Wesleyan University graduates report a median $53,728 ten years after entry, $2,758 more than the $50,970 at Dakota State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Dakota State University or Dakota Wesleyan University?
Dakota State University: its completers carry a median $23,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Dakota Wesleyan University, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Dakota State University, against 48% at Dakota Wesleyan University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.