Safety Score
1.44 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Spearfish, SD · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Black Hills State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 3,475-student campus.
- 1.44
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,787
- Rank of 3,050
- #11
- SD rank
- 3,475
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Black Hills State University reports 1.44 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,787 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 56% of ranked campuses its size.
- 1.44
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #1,787
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 56%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 1
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Black Hills State University decreased from 5 to 1 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesBlack Hills State University is a Public institution located in Spearfish, SD, enrolling approximately 3,475 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 11 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within SD, it ranks #11 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 3,475 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Black Hills State University is "Rape" with 8 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in SD averaging 0.69 incidents per 1,000 students, Black Hills State University reports 109% more incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#1787
See peer comparison
State Rank (SD)
#11
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
1
across 11 crime categories
Where Black Hills State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
1 safer than 44% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Black Hills State University percentile rank 41.4%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1787 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Black Hills State University reports 109% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $8,764
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $11,866
- Avg Net Price
- $15,911
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 20%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- SAT Average
- 1087
- SAT Math Range
- 500–570
- ACT Average
- 21
- ACT Range
- 18–24
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 40%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $38,927
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $46,674
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 78%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyBlack Hills State University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 80% (5 → 1 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fondling | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 49 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 2 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 53 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 10 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
Black Hills State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
SD
Black Hills State University
1.44 incidents / 1,000 students
NM
Santa Fe Community College
0.00 incidents / 1,000 students
OR
Pacific University
2.59 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe, NM · 3,478 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR · 3,479 enrolled
Safety Score 2.59
Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA · 3,481 enrolled
Safety Score 0.57
Palo Verde College
Blythe, CA · 3,461 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Whatcom Community College
Bellingham, WA · 3,490 enrolled
Safety Score 0.29
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Black Hills State University nationally (rank #1787), regardless of size or state.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
New York, NY
National Rank #1786
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL
National Rank #1788
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Chicago, IL
National Rank #1785
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
Ardmore, OK
National Rank #1789
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
National Rank #1784
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Hills State University safe?
Black Hills State University has a safety score of 1.44 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,787 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Black Hills State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Black Hills State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in SD.
Does Black Hills State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Black Hills State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Black Hills State University's Safety Profile
Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD enrolls 3,475 students and has a safety score of 1.44 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1787 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 5 in 2022 to 1 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.
What this means for you
Black Hills State University's 1.44 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Black Hills State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.