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College · Catholic life on campus
Black Hills State University
- LocationSpearfish, SD
- Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 3,475 students
Black Hills State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.
Catholic life here hasn’t been researched yet. We research from official sources only, starting with the largest campuses, and we never guess. The nearest Catholic church mapped in OpenStreetMap is 0.2 miles away.
Know the official campus ministry or Mass schedule page? Send us the link.
Catholic churches nearby
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Newman Center — 0.2 mi · 814 West King Street, Spearfish
- Saint Joseph's Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 844 North 5th Street, Spearfish
Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.
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Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.43%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.72%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,087 · ACT 21
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.17 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$6,388
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,279 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 3,475 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $15,911 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $21,277 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 43% |
| First-year retention | 72% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $46,674 |
| Admission rate | 96% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 20% |
| Average SAT | 1087 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 465–565 |
| SAT math | 500–570 |
| ACT composite | 18–24 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value index: 41 / 100 (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Local Church
The Most Reverend Scott E. Bullock, Bishop of Rapid City
Formal address: “Your Excellency”
Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.
Diocese estimated from the nearest Catholic schools using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 219046
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (small programs)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Questions families ask
- Is Black Hills State University a Catholic college?
- No. Black Hills State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.
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