University of South Dakota

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About University of South Dakota

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: Yes

Accreditation: regional

The University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Vermillion, South Dakota. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,987, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 87%. The university offers 64 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 60%, and a student-faculty ratio of 14:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,773, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $11,283.

Vermillion, SD

$7,773

Avg in-state
tuition

$11,283

Avg out-of-state
tuition

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

87%

Acceptance Rate Insight

87% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

77%

Retention Rate Insight

77% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

60%

Graduation Rate Insight

60% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresConsidered (not required)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankConsidered (not required)

Letter of recommendationConsidered (not required)

High school GPAConsidered (not required)

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Considered (not required)

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile19-25

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1050-1290

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

10k

Students enrolled

56%

Online student enrollment

14:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

81%

Unknown

3%

Black

3%

Hispanic

4%

Two or more races

3%

Non-U.S. Citizen

3%

Asian

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

2%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

24% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

24%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

60

Total Online Enrollment

5,298

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

65% On-campus

35% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesCheck Bold75% online

AssociateCheck Bold80% online

Bachelor'sCheck Bold25% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold50% online

Master'sCheck Bold36% online

DoctorateCheck Bold30% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

24%

State Grant Aid

22%

Institution Grant Aid

76%

Pell Grant

24%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$6,534
State Grant Aid$1,396
Institution Grant Aid$3,262
Pell Grant Aid$4,438

Financial Outlook

$24k

Average student debtafter graduation

$37k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

6.1%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Swimming Diving
  • Other Sports
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
2Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
3Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
4Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
5Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
6Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
7Education.
8Engineering.
9English Language And Literature/Letters.
10Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
11Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
12Health Professions And Related Programs.
13History
14History.
15Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
16Legal Professions And Studies.
17Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
18Mathematics And Statistics.
19Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
20Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
21Philosophy And Religious Studies.
22Physical Sciences.
23Psychology.
24Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
25Security And Protective Services.
26Social Sciences.
27Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.