MISSION & VISION

Mission Statement:
Black Hills State University is a regional, comprehensive, public institution that provides access to a higher education for aspiring students. BHSU offers a generous number of baccalaureate and select master’s degrees, generates new knowledge, promotes excellence in teaching and public engagement, and serves as a regional economic leader. Graduates make significant contributions to the workforce and the betterment of their community.

Vision Statement:
Black Hills State University will innovate to provide cutting-edge education, promote student success, be a sustainable campus, and serve as an economic engine for western South Dakota.

ABOUT BHSU

Black Hills State University is a comprehensive regional public university located in Spearfish, northern Black Hills, South Dakota. We are a small campus that offers a personalized approach to education and where students are well-known and supported by their faculty.

BHSU FACTS

ENROLLMENT: 3,475 Students

CAMPUS: 163 acres (includes BHSU-Rapid City)

ATHLETICS: NCAA Division II, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 

TEAMS: 14 NCAA DII Sports Teams + NIRA Men’s & Women’s Rodeo Team 

MASCOT: Yellow Jacket (Sting) 

SCHOOL COLORS: Green & Gold 

FACULTY WITH TERMINAL DEGREE: 79%

CLASS STRUCTURE: 99% of classes taught by faculty

HOUSING: 5 Residence Halls (All Co-ed), 8-Building Apartment Complex 

LOCATIONS: Spearfish, Rapid City, and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota 

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: 55 bachelor's, 5 associate's, 8 master's degree programs, and 26 undergraduate certificates.

STUDENT BODY: 67% resident and 33% non-resident representing 64 South Dakota counties and 41 other states. 21% of federal cohort are first-generation college students.

GRADUATION: 476 degrees awards in 2022-2023.

WORKFORCE: 57% of graduates live in South Dakota

ACTIVE ALUMNI: 19,289

FINANCIAL AID: 96% of BHSU freshman students receive assistance 

AFFILIATION: Four-year South Dakota public liberal arts university 

ACCREDITATION: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and recognized by the Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America.) 

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Updated: November 2023