True College Verdict
F

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, SD · 670 undergraduates · 27% receive Pell Grants · admits 73%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,341 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 33.8 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $24,039 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
About half
56% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Mixed
Graduates owe a typical $26,859 against earnings of $57,757, a ratio of 0.47. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Dakota Wesleyan University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $26,859 in federal loans against earnings of $57,757.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $24,039 a year after grants, more than at 67% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
56%
Better than 42% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
75%
Better than 45% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$57,757
Better than 47% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$26,859
Better than 19% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$24,039
Better than 33% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$34,540
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

Associate degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Business Administration, Management and Operations5n/an/a

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Dakota Wesleyan University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.