South Dakota - School of Mines and Technology

Introduction
Campus Features
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
Why study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Awards & Accreditations
Campus Life & Facilities
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is in the Top 10 Countries to Study Abroad
Locations
Programs

Introduction

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology was founded in 1885 to provide instruction in the region’s primary industry, which was mining. And now it includes so much more.

Over the years, South Dakota Mines evolved into a leading science and engineering university and is committed to excellence in science and engineering academics and research. We are working to develop the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers through STEM bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and all undergraduate engineering programs are also accredited through ABET.

We offer a rigorous academic experience at a reasonable cost, with small class sizes, dedicated faculty, cutting-edge research, and many student programs and organizations. By the time they graduate, 75-80% of our students have had hands-on, real-world experiences through internships, cooperative education, or research projects. Our graduate and undergraduate students have research opportunities in areas such as energy and environmental systems, underground science and engineering, and materials and manufacturing. A few research examples include energy storage, cold spray technology, biomedical applications, and even disrupting criminal networks.

You are always welcome to visit our beautiful campus, but in case you can’t make it in person, we offer a virtual tour on our website. We are nestled in the eastern slope of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Whether you prefer exploring the city or pursuing outdoor adventures, Rapid City and the Black Hills offer many options for you.

South Dakota Mines has been named one of the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment by College Factual for several years. In addition to rankings, there are many reasons to attend South Dakota Mines – great location, maximum value, personal attention and so much more.

Campus Features

Residence Life at the South Dakota Mines provides on-campus housing for almost 1,100 students. Living on-campus can be one of the best experiences of your college years - getting to know your neighbors and yourself is fun, exciting and sometimes challenging.

Students who have graduated from high school in the last two years are required to live on campus. Interest Communities are an option in Peterson Hall, with activities focused on specific themes, such as outdoor pursuits or exploring Rapid City and beyond.

Gallery

Scholarships and Funding

Scholarship Deadline: January 15

South Dakota Mines does not offer scholarships specifically for international students. To be considered for scholarships, you must be accepted for admission by January 15 of the year you are planning to enroll in the fall semester. Scholarships are only awarded for a start date of the fall semester. Scholarships are awarded based on ACT or SAT scores and an unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 3.0.

Scholarship Deadline: January 15

Why study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Life at South Dakota Mines is more than books, homework, and tests. It’s robot races on the Quad, blacksmithing on Friday afternoons, late-night hangouts with friends in the dorm, and cheering for your favorite Hardrocker sports team. It’s finding “your” people – friends who geek out at the same stuff you do, whether that’s esports, robotics, fossils, or chemistry experiments. You’ll work alongside “your” people in classrooms and on student teams and organizations. At South Dakota Mines, it’s more about collaboration than competition, and you’ll never be alone in your passions and interests.

Awards & Accreditations

ABET

Accredited (1936)

Higher Learning Commission

Accredited (1925)

Best Maker Schools

Newsweek (2021)

Ranking 45000 colleges by ROI, in top 200 for 20+ years npv

Georgetown University (2022)

Best value, #1 engineering school in the country for return on investment

College Factual

#1 in South Dakota

College Simply

Campus Life & Facilities

International Student Services
Career Center (South Dakota Mines has a 97% placement rate)
Student Success
Student Engagement
Counseling and Wellness Center

Our campus boasts a vibrant patchwork of concerts and intramurals, lectures and plays, student clubs and impromptu volleyball games, and cheering fans packing the stands on game day. Oh, and it’s all minutes away from a bustling downtown loaded with restaurants and pubs, boutiques and cafes – a slice of big city life with a small-town soul. With so much to offer, there’s campus life happening wherever you look. Discover yours.

South Dakota Mines has over 100 student clubs and organizations, so if you can’t find one that matches your interests, we encourage you to start your own! Our student organizations include professional associations based on your major, honor societies, humanitarian and volunteer organizations, religious ministries, outdoor activities, gaming, and so much more!

And if you are focused on studying, you can find a group for that too! With whiteboards and glassboards all over campus, you can find students excitedly working together to find solutions to complex problems. Our programs emphasize hands-on learning in maker spaces and labs that feature the same equipment you’ll use on the job. Break things. Build things. Then get paid to do it professionally.

We are Curious. Tenacious. Innovative. And we’re changing the world with STEM.

Located on a 118-acre campus in the eastern foothills of the beautiful Black Hills, South Dakota Mines is just 35 minutes from Mt. Rushmore and an hour from Badlands National Park. The Black Hills area is known for a milder climate than other parts of the state, a climate more akin to the front-range of Colorado. Our winters are warmer and our summers cooler, making us a perfect climate for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and more.

Four distinct seasons with 226 sunny days per year to enjoy:

Hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, canoeing, golfing, skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, fishing, dirt biking, ATVing, hunting, water sports, and more
Art galleries and Art Alley, shopping, restaurants, theaters, music events
Parks, museums, libraries, churches, escape rooms, arcades, indoor climbing walls
A huge range of tourism venues that draw millions of visitors every year: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave (and many others), the Badlands, historic Deadwood
Rapid City's Main Street Square (boutiques, cafes, fountains, and skating in the winter...plus a statue of a president on every downtown corner) – also featuring free weekly summer events - Summer Nights