Affordable Alternatives to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Open-data reference.
We found 15 schools structurally similar to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.
Your School
Rapid City, South Dakota · Public
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology posts an average net price of $20,183 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.
The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,310, achieved by New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology at $9,873. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s $72,257, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $75,196.
The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.
Similar Schools That Cost Less
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.
| School | Net Price | Savings | Earnings (10yr) | Graduation | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, CT · Public Better Value | $16,798 | -$3,385 | $73,997 | 56.7% | 73% |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value | $10,875 | -$9,308 | $73,997 | 56.1% | 60% |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT · Public Better Value | $16,403 | -$3,780 | $73,997 | 65.2% | 57% |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT · Public Better Value | $13,807 | -$6,376 | $73,997 | 59.1% | 56% |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value | $10,163 | -$10,020 | $78,466 | 62.8% | 52% |
| Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA · Public Better Value | $17,113 | -$3,070 | $77,369 | 78.9% | 51% |
| University of Delaware Newark, DE · Public Better Value | $17,799 | -$2,384 | $72,950 | 79.7% | 50% |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM · Public Better Value | $9,873 | -$10,310 | $76,489 | 56.8% | 48% |
| Rutgers University-Newark Newark, NJ · Public Better Value | $19,703 | -$480 | $74,479 | 65.7% | 48% |
| Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, TN · Private Nonprofit Better Value | $11,212 | -$8,971 | $72,529 | 46.1% | 48% |
| George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public Better Value | $17,915 | -$2,268 | $76,343 | 68.6% | 47% |
| San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public Better Value | $13,760 | -$6,423 | $78,988 | 66.8% | 46% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public Better Value | $14,600 | -$5,583 | $72,424 | 83.1% | 45% |
| Colorado State University Global Denver, CO · Public Better Value | $16,510 | -$3,673 | $76,813 | N/A | 43% |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing Columbus, OH · Private Nonprofit Better Value | $10,420 | -$9,763 | $75,103 | 64.1% | 43% |
Top Similar Alternatives
Quick picks from the full list – compare any two schools side by side
How We Match Schools
Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.
Only schools with a lower average net price than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.