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.
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.
ENROLLMENT: 3,539 Students
CAMPUS: 123 acres
ATHLETICS: NCAA Division II, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
TEAMS: 14 NCAA DII Sports Teams + 1 NIRA Rodeo Team
MASCOT: Yellow Jacket (Sting)
SCHOOL COLORS: Green & Gold
FACULTY WITH TERMINAL DEGREE: 82%
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: 52 bachelor's, 5 associate's, 8 master's degree programs, 24 undergraduate certificates, and 4 graduate certificates.
STUDENT BODY: 69% from South Dakota from all of the 65 South Dakota counties, 31% from 44 other states and 31 countries, 13% Federal Cohorts are first-generation college students
GRADUATION: Average of 573 graduates annually
WORKFORCE: 57% of graduates live in South Dakota
ALUMNI: 18,412 alumni internationally
FINANCIAL AID: 92% of BHSU freshman students receive assistance
AFFILIATION: 4-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, and recognized by the Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America.)
Updated: November 19, 2021