Quad

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SDQuad's selectivityOpen
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

South Dakota State admits about 10 in 10 applicants (98%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 5% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

98%

98%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

7,287

Admitted

7,166

Yield

34%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1060–1240

10001600
ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836
Applications +42% since fall 2014 · admit rate 92% → 98%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 9,198 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

9.2K

undergrads · larger than 88% of colleges

Diversity index

0.29

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

20%

below the median

Remote townNCAA D-I FCS · The Summit LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.20 → 0.29 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (18% of graduates). 17 students for every faculty member, more than at 78% of colleges. 81% of faculty are full-time. Spends $10,257 a year on instruction per student.

17 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 78% of colleges

Most popular major

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

18% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

$122.2K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

81%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$10.3K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $21,508 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.8K less than the national median. The 94% who received grants paid $19,932 on average; the other 6% paid the full sticker price of $24,744 in-state / $28,254 out-of-state.

16%

$21.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.8K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$24,744 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 16% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $55,070 ten years after enrolling, more than at 54% of colleges; 58% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

58%

58%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$55.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.3K

≈ $246/month for 10 years

Retention

84%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 57% → 62% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 42% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 92% to 98%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −8% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +42%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 92% → 98%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.20 → 0.29

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

95% admit · 9.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side

University of Maine

97% admit · 8.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side

University of Wyoming

97% admit · SAT 1155 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

University of Mississippi

97% admit · SAT 1100 · 21.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    South Dakota State University (2026)

    South Dakota State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 219356 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything