Dakota Wesleyan University

Private · Moderately Selective · SD

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationSD · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads670

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate43.1%

6-yr grad rate48.3%

Drop-out rate24.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$34k

Out-of-state tuition$34k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity19.8%

Gender diversity49.7%

International3.4%

IdentityUnited Methodist

Overview

Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private Methodist-affiliated university in Mitchell, South Dakota, the town known for the Corn Palace. Its size supports a close-knit campus culture, and it draws heavily from the surrounding region rather than serving as a national draw.

Academics

Education, nursing, business, and leadership programs make up the academic core. The university's leadership emphasis carries the name of George McGovern, the South Dakota senator and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, who taught at Dakota Wesleyan early in his career, a genuine institutional connection rather than just a naming exercise, and one the university builds programming and archival resources around.

Campus & student life

Mitchell is a small town, and campus life is correspondingly self-contained, with the university functioning as a significant part of the town's identity given its size relative to the community.

Worth knowing

The George McGovern connection is a real point of distinction for a school this size; the university maintains programming and archival resources tied to his legacy in public service and leadership.

dwu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.4%

Enrolled mid-50%1140

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying