Admit rate has ranged 71%–88% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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, tight-knit Christian college in rural Iowa where nearly all students live on campus, form lasting bonds, and graduate with near-perfect job placement rates (99.7% within six months). Its Reformed Christian worldview permeates everything from engineering labs to dorm life, attracting students who want career-ready skills without compromising their faith.
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
Location
Sioux Center, IA
Top Majors
Business, Education, Engineering
Acceptance Rate
71.2%
4-Year Grad Rate
65%
On-Campus Living
90%
6-Month Job/Grad School Rate
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
39%
First-generation share
12%
Endowment / student
$46,833
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 leans accessible, with a 71.2% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and baseline requirements that won’t intimidate most applicants: a 2.25 high school GPA or ACT composite score of 19 (SAT 1010). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 21–27 on the ACT or 1070–1330 on the SAT, though the university explicitly states it admits students below these thresholds. With about 1,700 applicants annually, Dordt isn’t fishing for valedictorians—it’s seeking mission-aligned students who thrive in a Christ-centered community.
Every Dordt student navigates a Core Program that integrates faith with disciplines like engineering, nursing, and business—the three most popular majors. The university offers over 40 undergraduate degrees, with education, engineering, and business programs drawing particular praise. A 2026 Research.com ranking placed Dordt among Iowa’s top five colleges for value, thanks to its 65% four-year graduation rate (well above the national average for private colleges) and hands-on learning ethos. Professors here don’t just teach calculus; they frame it as a way to 'serve God’s kingdom.'
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.
Dordt’s 90% on-campus residency rate fuels an all-in communal vibe. The Week of Welcome (WOW) immersion program sets the tone, with upperclassmen leading freshmen through traditions like prairie burns and hymn sings. Student Activities organizes everything from movie nights to service projects, while Instagram posts from @du.studentlife show packed dorm lounges and intramural tournaments. Sioux Center’s rural setting means students make their own fun—think pickup basketball games, coffee-shop study sessions, and road trips to Sioux City (45 minutes away).
Dordt’s 99.7% career outcomes rate (employed or in grad school within six months of graduation) rivals elite universities, with education and nursing graduates particularly sought after. The median salary six years out is $50,551—solid for a regional college, especially given Iowa’s low cost of living. A 70% six-year graduation rate suggests most students finish on time, though the four-year rate (65%) hints some take an extra year to juggle jobs or ministry work. Alumni networks in Christian schools and Midwest hospitals help open doors.
At $51,314 sticker price, Dordt isn’t cheap—but $20,909 in average aid brings the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $27,925. Scholarships (like the $18,000 Presidential Scholarship for top applicants) and grants cover much of the gap, though 85% of students still take out loans. The Net Price Calculator helps families game scenarios, but the real sell is ROI: graduates earn enough to justify the debt, especially if they stay in the Midwest.
Dordt is unapologetically niche: a school where agriculture majors analyze soil samples through a biblical lens and engineering students design wheelchair ramps for local churches. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know students by name—and by faith journey. Unlike larger Christian universities, Dordt avoids football-fueled hype; its identity rests on producing graduates who ‘work toward Christ-centered renewal’ in everyday jobs. For students who want a STEM or business degree without secular campus culture, it’s a compelling alternative to Liberty or Baylor.
Dordt University logo · sourceDordt University constructs new apartments this… | Dordt University · sourceCampus Center | Dordt University · sourceSioux Center Community | Dordt University · source
