Founded in 1885, Dakota Wesleyan University. is a Private college. Located in South Dakota, which is a city setting in South Dakota, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 879 full time undergraduate students, and 117 full time graduate students.
The Dakota Wesleyan University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 48 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Dakota Wesleyan University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
72%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
25
SAT Range
800-1010
ACT Range
19-24
Admissions at DWU are considered Selective, with ,13% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 27 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
56% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 19% were in the top quarter, and 7% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Dakota Wesleyan University.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
29%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
14%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
14%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
57%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
14%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
29%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
71%
“I feel extremely safe”
14%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
14%
“We bought the gear”
71%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
43%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
43%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
14%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
0%
“They keep regular office hours”
100%
“They”re always available”
57%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
14%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
29%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
14%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
14%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
71%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
43%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
0%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
29%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
14%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
14%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
57%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
14%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
29%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
71%
“I feel extremely safe”
14%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
14%
“We bought the gear”
71%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
43%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
43%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
14%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
0%
“They keep regular office hours”
100%
“They”re always available”
57%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
14%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
29%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
31 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
21 Students rated off-campus housing 3.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
33 Students rated campus food 2.9 stars. 3 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
35 Students rated campus facilities 3.9 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
34 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
34 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
33 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
35 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.
Dakota Wesleyan University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Dakota Wesleyan University?
10 Students rated Dakota Wesleyan University
Raegan
The campus is great! Everyone is kind and helpful. The classrooms are clean and easy to work in as well. Plenty of time to do homework and assignments. Most teachers are very flexible with schedules and time. While being a student I have never had a negative interaction with someone, everyone is nice and approachable.
Megan
At first glance, Dakota Wesleyan University is a beautiful campus with a long history of successful alumni. The teachers and staff are very friendly and helpful in times of need, and make you really feel like a priority at school, and not just another ID number. The cafeteria food can be rough sometimes, but the staff are very nice and do the best with what they have. The sports teams are nonexistent except for both men’s and women’s basketball because they are actually good, like national champions good. The students are usually friendly, but almost all act like they are still in high school constantly caught up in pointless dramas because there is nothing else going on in the super small town. Winters suck walking across campus.
Trent
I love the size, the people are really nice and the sports are known. Great academics. What I like the most is how I am able to go get tutored by teachers or other people on campus at the library for just about any subject that I need. For someone who isn't that great at school work, I think this is a great idea and every school should have it.
Haley
Great School! I would definitely recommend this school to others who are interested in pursuing a higher education. The nursing programs are spectacular and so are the teachers. I owe all that I have learned to this school and I will always be greatful!
Madison
Dakota Wesleyan University is a very tight knit community and a very successful school in my opinion. I love the size of the classes and the school size and also how safe it seems. This school is the very best option for me education wise, 90% of graduates go into their choice of career field. I love this school and I am looking forward to attending this school.
Marissa
Love the faith based campus and small size! Great town and great community to be a part of. With there being another college in town, I’m surprised there’s not more competition between the two even though they offer different things. Been very happy with my choice of college!
Madison
Dakota Wesleyan University is a wonderful place. The class sizes are mostly small and the professors are very accessible. Most of them care about your life outside of the classroom and are very friendly people. The sports scene is incredible. Our women's basketball team just won the NAIA Dll National Championship. Dakota Wesleyan has a variety of majors and pretty much has something for everyone. We have a brand new performing arts building and a recently built math and sciences center. We are also putting up a new dorm as I type, and next year we will launch our digital initiative, a learning partnership with Apple. DWU is a great place to be.
Rachelle
I am a proud adult learner at Dakota Wesleyan University. They are eager to help you succeed. They offer plenty of opportunities to travel abroad. They work hard to build a close relationship with the small community. And as a private college they are faith based.
Taner
The campus here at Dakota Wesleyan University is quite small. But everybody on the campus knows everybody and we are all friendly to each other. The sports in this town are wonderful with great support from the community. Overall I have enjoyed my experience here at Dakota Wesleyan.
Alyssa
Great school! There are small class sizes and your professors know your names and will often go around your schedule to find a way to help you if you need to meet with them. All the staff is kind, everybody says hello when walking around campus. Freshman dorms can get loud but usually it Is pretty good. Café food is okay but there usually isn't much of a variety.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Dakota Wesleyan University is 72%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I have learned a lot, not only in the classroom but in the residence halls as well. Being here has helped me to prepare to live on my own one day and given me a chance to try out different things. Having a college education will allow me to go farther with my dreams and has set me up for success. But perhaps most importantlyI have established valuable relationships with not only students but faculty and staff as well. These relationships will be of great value to me as I enter the "real" world.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
The best thing that has ever happened to me! truly enjoy the staff, facilty members, and fellow students. I look forward to going to class every day and I am very proud to be able to go to this college and get my degree here. I would recomend to anyone to attend this college.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The wrost thing about my school is that the first week was hard to adjust to. There wasn't a lot of friendly faces for me to see because a lot of people who came here already knew people.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
It's a private liberal arts school with a Methodist faith-based teaching style which puts us into classes that allow students to explore the powers that lie within us and also explore the world around us, opening up new cultures and new ways of thinking.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The relationships built with professors and other campus staff. We eat dinner at our professors houses sometimes and all of the staff seems to genuinely care about us, not only academically but also personally. I also like to brag about the great people who are here and our elementary school on campus providing hands on experience for us education majors. I debated a lot of schools, but I'm glad I chose DWU!
My school offers unique education geared toward it's students needs in a supportive and caring environment. I can't wait to attend classes and be involved in many different opportunities sponsored by DWU. I think DWU is the perfect environment for any student who wants a community feel, great friends, one-on-one time with profesors, study groups, be invoved many different school events, and a chance for a genuine education.
The kind of person who should attend Dakota Wesleyan University would be someone who enjoys small classrooms and who likes one on one attention with instructors. This is a small and wonderful campus that makes you feel like you are at home. You will have a friend in every class and feel comfortable being able to ask questions.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
100% of students attending Dakota Wesleyan University receive some sort of financial aid.
34% were awarded federal grants.92%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.