Admit rate has ranged 71%–88% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (68%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Dordt University is a small, residential Christian university in the cornfields of Sioux Center, Iowa, where a tight-knit, faith-infused community is the defining feature. It operates with the practical, no-nonsense ethos of the Midwest, offering a slate of career-oriented programs in business, education, and engineering, all delivered with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. The place is defined by its outcomes—nearly every graduate lands a job or continues their education within six months—and a campus life so immersive that 90% of students live on-site.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,597
In-state tuition
$37,050
Out-of-state tuition
$37,050
Live On-Campus
~90%
Graduation Rate
70%
Student-Faculty Ratio
14:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$52,559
Career Outcomes Rate (2025)
99.7%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$52,559
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.0×
Median debt at graduation
$21,500
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
91%
Pell (lower-income) share
20%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
12%
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Civil Engineering$58,673
Mechanical Engineering$57,770
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,776
Agricultural Business and Management$48,823
Animal Sciences$39,369
Business/Commerce, General$37,208
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
14°F
Annual rain
29.3"
Annual snow
28"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
58
Scholarly works
3,420
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Dordt University?
Dordt University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Sioux Center, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Dordt University?
Admitted students at Dordt University typically score 1070–1330 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Dordt University cost?
At Dordt University, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,807 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Dordt University?
Dordt University enrolls approximately 1,597 undergraduate students.
Where is Dordt University located?
Dordt University is located in Sioux Center, IA.
Admissions
Dordt's admissions process is accessible and transparent, reflecting its mission to serve a broad segment of students committed to a Christian liberal arts education. The university reports an of 68%, positioning it as a less selective institution where most qualified applicants are admitted. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1070–1330, and the middle 50% ACT range is 21–29; the average high school GPA of incoming students is approximately 3.65. While test scores are considered, they are not an absolute barrier: the university has clear minimum thresholds for general admission, including a composite ACT score of 19 (or a combined SAT score of 1010) and a high school GPA of 2.25. Students falling below these benchmarks may still be admitted through a provisional review process. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be 38%, which is considered high for a private institution of its type. The admissions office emphasizes a , and while specific details for Dordt are not provided in the sources, the general guidance for applicants is to present a full academic and personal profile. There is no mention of a binding Early Decision program or a policy that considers demonstrated interest as a formal factor in the review process.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$36,848
Marketing$35,954
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academic life at Dordt is characterized by close faculty mentorship and a curriculum designed to integrate faith with learning across more than 40 degree programs. The student-to-faculty ratio is an intimate 14:1, with 90.1% of courses taught by full-time faculty and an average class size of 20 students. The most popular majors cluster in professionally focused fields: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Education; and Engineering. Other commonly pursued majors include Social Work and Elementary Education. This practical orientation is balanced with a comprehensive liberal arts core. The university supports undecided students through close work with academic advisors. Dordt's academic value has been recognized externally, earning a top-five ranking in Iowa for strong value and student success according to one ranking site. The academic environment is supportive and structured, aiming to prepare students not just for a career, but for a life of service within their callings.
Dordt is overwhelmingly a residential campus, with approximately 90% to 92% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. This creates a self-contained, 24/7 community where the line between living and learning is intentionally blurred. Students are consistently immersed in campus culture, from organized events coordinated by Dordt Student Activities to informal gatherings in residence halls where students are "watching movies, playing games, and studying together." The university kicks off each academic year with a Week of Welcome (WOW), an event designed to immerse new students into campus culture and help them adjust to college life. Student reviews consistently highlight the warm, welcoming, and close-knit community, where forming meaningful friendships is a central part of the experience. The campus culture is actively fostered by professional residence life staff who serve the residential community. This intense focus on shared residential life is the engine of Dordt's distinctive character, fostering a sense of belonging that is both a selling point and a defining reality for students.
Dordt's raison d'être is clear: to prepare students for meaningful next steps, and by that measure, it excels. The university reports exceptionally strong career outcomes rates. For the class of 2025, 99.7% of graduates were either employed or pursuing further education within six months of graduation. The class of 2024 achieved a 99.3% outcomes rate, which the university notes exceeds the 92% national average for private colleges. The six-year graduation rate is 70%, a figure that places it competitively among national institutions. For financial return, the median earnings of graduates 10 years after entry are $52,559. Other sources note an average annual income for alumni of approximately $61,563. These outcomes underscore the effectiveness of Dordt's career-oriented majors and its supportive community in launching graduates into the workforce or graduate school with notable success.
Dordt is proactive in making its education accessible through financial aid. 100% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive some form of grant or scholarship aid. The average net price after aid—the actual cost a student pays—is $25,807 (other sources cite a similar of $27,257). The average financial aid package, which can include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study, is approximately $20,909. Aid comes from four primary sources: scholarships, grants, loans, and work opportunities. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for families to estimate their individual cost. The sources do not indicate that Dordt has a "no-loan" policy for low-income students or a guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans; federal Direct Stafford Loans are listed as a standard component of aid packages for those who qualify. The focus is on a combination of institutional and external aid to lower the net cost significantly for most families.
Dordt University stands out for the remarkable cohesion between its mission, its community, and its results. It is not a place of lofty, abstract prestige, but of tangible, grounded outcomes. First, its near-perfect career outcomes rate (99.7%) is almost unheard of and speaks to a relentless, practical focus on preparing students for what comes next. Second, it achieves this within an intensely residential, community-focused environment where 9 out of 10 students live on campus, creating a level of peer immersion and faculty accessibility that is increasingly rare. Third, it delivers this package at a net price that is competitive for a private university, with universal aid distribution. Dordt knows exactly what it is: a Christian university in rural Iowa that builds a purposeful, supportive bubble around its students and then effectively launches them into careers and service. For students seeking a clear path, a close community, and a faith-based education that translates directly into employability, Dordt offers a compelling and highly effective model.
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