Study abroad at Black Hills State University

Learn more about studying at Black Hills State University as an international student.

Black Hills State University campus view
Black Hills State University logo

Key facts

  • Type
    Public
  • International students
    64
  • Nationalities
    29
  • Total programs
    36
  • University ranking
    Not ranked

Study abroad at Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University (BSHU) is a liberal arts university located near the Black Hills in the US state of South Dakota, home to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The location of BHSU gives you the unique opportunity to explore the outdoors while studying for your degree.

The University is big enough to offer opportunities for students to pursue their goals but small enough that students get to know many of the staff, faculty, and students. A big draw is the University’s School of Business which is AACSB accredited.

The sports and fitness facilities on campus provide students with many opportunities to get involved in teams and activities, with BHSU’s Yellow Jackets playing in the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 4,000 students attend the University with residence halls and apartments on campus to house 1,000 of them.

Illustration depicting a student navigating the journey of higher education. Elements include a diploma, graduation cap, magnifying glass with a puzzle piece, books, a "Hi!" speech bubble, and a university building in the background.

Why study at Black Hills State University

  • AACSB accredited

    Internationally recognized accreditation for business and accounting programs

  • Experienced faculty

    69% of teaching faculty hold a doctorate or other terminal degree

Location

Black Hills State University

1200 University St, Spearfish, SD 57799

Whether you're enjoying an arts festival, walking historic downtown, or socializing at one of many restaurants and coffee shops, Spearfish is a place that is easy to call home.

Illustration of famous landmarks like a tower, a classical building, and a modern skyscraper; a location marker, interconnected on a map-like layout with trees and clouds.

Fees and funding

Fee information

  • Undergraduate tuition

    $11,865 per year

  • Postgraduate tuition

    from $8,448 to $12,065 per year

Funding

BHSU Scholarships of Distinction

BHSU’s Scholarships of Distinction program will award merit scholarships of up to $4,000 per year to new qualifying students, while funds are available. Scholarships of Distinction are based on unweighted high school GPA, ACT/SAT scores, or a combination of the two. These scholarships are available to new first-time students who have not previously attended any other college or university. Official academic credentials will be used to determine award amounts.
Illustration of education and financial elements including a graduation cap, trophy, diploma, books, a piggy bank, stacks of cash notes, and coins, representing fees and funding.

What is the cost of living near Black Hills State University?

Local figures aren't available yet — values reflect USA-wide averages.

Category Cost  (in United States Dollar)
Rent, 1-bed apartment in city centre$1,652Range: $1,046 to $4,269
Rent, 1-bed apartment outside centre$1,349Range: $891 to $2,857
Utilities (electricity, heating, water, refuse)$214Range: $130 to $400
Internet (60 Mbps unlimited)$73Range: $50 to $110
Mobile phone plan (data + calls)$61Range: $30 to $110
Monthly public transport pass$65Range: $35 to $138
Monthly grocery basket$350Range: $250 to $500
Coffee shop drink$5Range: $3 to $9
Cinema or cultural event ticket$15Range: $11 to $23
Gym membership$45Range: $20 to $135

Indicative monthly costs per person.

Data sourced from numbeo.com (Crowdsourced).

Visa requirements for Black Hills State University

Many international students will require a visa to study in the US, and this is a vital step of your study abroad journey. Make sure you understand the requirements you may need to meet before applying.

Life at Black Hills State University

International students at BHSU come from more than 25 countries. The Office of International Relations and Global Engagement helps establish a global community at BHSU and organize orientation events for your first week on campus.

There are over 80 clubs and organizations you can join at BHSU, which can offer international students the chance to meet new and like-minded people. Cultural engagement excursions, involvement in intramural sports, and professional and personal development workshops are also available.

Illustration showing aspects of student life, including a student with a book and pencil, various books, a laptop, fast food, and iconic educational symbols like a graduation cap and a university building.

Facilities

  • Sports Facilities
    • 1 Natural Turf American Football Pitches
    • 2 Sport facilities
  • All Weather Sports Pitches
    • 1 Tennis Courts
    • 1 Swimming pools
    • 2 Basketball Courts
    • 1 Diving Pools
    • 1 Badminton Courts
    • 1 Climbing Wall
  • Fitness Centre
    • Swimming Pool
    • Free Weights
    • Machines
    • Fitness Classes
  • Food & Restaurants
    • 8 Restaurants
    • 1 Cafe’s
  • Healthcare & Medical
    • Child Development Assessment & Immunization
    • Campus Doctor
    • Counselling & Mental Health Services
    • Travel Vaccinations
    • Campus Pharmacy
    • Physiotherapy
  • Transport
    • Campus parking
  • Clubs & Organisations
    • 79 Clubs & Organizations
  • Tutoring Support
    • Academic Tutoring & Support
    • Student Tutoring & Support

Student reviews for Black Hills State University

Overall rating

4.1
14 reviews
  • Overall experience
    4.4
  • Academic
    4.2
  • University social
    3.9
  • Accommodation
    3.9
  • University facilities
    4
Thi Nguyen
vn flag
Studied English at Black Hills State University
Overall Experience
  • Academic
    4
  • University social
    5
  • Accommodation
    4
  • University facilities
    4
Tell us about Black Hills State University

BHSU is a good environment for facilities and accommodation for first-time students in the United States, for the international student community in general and myself in particular, in the early days of study. At BHSU, at first, I felt that my communication ability was very poor, but it was the social links and the opportunity to exchange about international student life on campus that helped me improve a lot, especially the teaching quality of the English teacher, she helped me a lot and thanks for the enthusiastic support from the DSO department of the school.

Si Eun Kim
kr flag
Studied English at Black Hills State University
Overall Experience
  • Academic
    5
  • University social
    4
  • Accommodation
    5
  • University facilities
    4
Tell us about Black Hills State University

I love being here at BHSU. Usually everyone is friendly and nice. The communities here are rather smaller than others, but I like it because it can make us feel like being a part of the community, more than the bigger ones, I guess. All the facilities and accommodation are pretty good. The one thing that I feel inconvenient is the transportation, because there are no transportation methods that we, the international students can use. We have to move only by car, so that is a little problem. However, I think many people in this university are trying to handle it, like providing a shuttle to Walmart or something like that.

Sai Jayasinghe
lk flag
Studied Graphic Design at Black Hills State University
Overall Experience
  • Academic
    2
  • University social
    3
  • Accommodation
    3
  • University facilities
    2
Tell us about Black Hills State University

There are many things that can be drastically improved - I sometimes feel like I have traveled back in time to the 90s.

Chi Nguyen
vn flag
Studied Business Administration at Black Hills State University
Overall Experience
  • Academic
    4
  • University social
    3
  • Accommodation
    4
  • University facilities
    3
Tell us about Black Hills State University

Very supportive Professors and staff. Very reasonable tuition. There is no public transport which is a minus.

Tamir Davaadulam
mn flag
Studied Business Administration at Black Hills State University
Overall Experience
  • Academic
    4
  • University social
    4
  • Accommodation
    3
  • University facilities
    3
Tell us about Black Hills State University

BHSU campus has a beautiful environment of nature, full of hills and gorgeous canyon. You really can enjoy many kinds of outdoor activities. Also, there are so many social activities if you can stick with the student information board.