University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · MidwestQuad's selectivityOpen

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

Fall 2025: 6,380 applied (fall 2024: 5,965)University of South Dakota (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 6,306 admits (fall 2024: 5,892)University of South Dakota (Fall 2025)
Fall 2027 applicants: Test-blind (fall 2024: Test-optional)University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 77% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 79%)University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:University of South Dakota (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

10 in 10 applicants admitted

U. South Dakota admits about 10 in 10 applicants (99%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 5% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

99%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

6,380

Admitted

6,306

Yield

19%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.47

SAT middle 50%

1125–1315

10001600

ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836

Applications +68% since fall 2014 · admit rate 89% → 99%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,439 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

5.4K

undergrads · larger than 79% of colleges

Diversity index

0.41

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

24%

below the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FCS · The Summit LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.24 → 0.41 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (9% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 65% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,862 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,435 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.8K less than the national median. The 84% who received grants paid $19,133 on average; the other 17% paid the full sticker price of $24,639 in-state / $28,149 out-of-state.

19%

$20.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $24,639 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 19% of full price

Federal loans

40%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $51,926 ten years after enrolling, more than at 44% of colleges; 55% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

55%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$51.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.6K

≈ $250/month for 10 years

Retention

77%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 56% → 60% 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 9% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 68% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 89% to 99%.

Cost
Falling
−11% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+68%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 89% → 99% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.24 → 0.41

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Michigan Technological University

92% admit · SAT 1240 · 6K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Midwest

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University of Maine

97% admit · 8.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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North Dakota State University-Main Campus

95% admit · 9.5K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso MidwestAlso public

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University of Wyoming

97% admit · SAT 1155 · 7.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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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
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
University of South Dakota Common Data Set 2025–26
University of South Dakota · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Fall 2026 entrants; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
University of South Dakota (2026)
University of South Dakota · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 219471 · 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