University of South Dakota is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Vermillion, South Dakota. It enrolls 5,439 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value47
Affordability33
Selectivity19
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
University of South Dakota admits 98.8% of applicants, which makes it open to most qualified applicants, so admission is unlikely to be the hurdle.
Acceptance Rate
98.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1125 – 1315
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of South Dakota is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $19,858 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,432
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,942
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,356
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,870
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,948
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,280
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,422
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,921
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,942
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,540
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,202
Over $110,000
$22,193
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,37925%percentile
$23,592Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,85490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $4,592
No Pell $15,750
↓ $7,842
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $6,092
Independent students $18,000
↓ $5,592
Female students $18,000
↓ $5,592
Male students $16,000
↓ $7,592
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,782, less than completers ($23,592), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of students who start here finish within six years, and 80% come back after first year. Fewer than half finish in six years. Ask what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $51,926 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,926
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 5,439 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,439
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.0%4,136
International 6.9%376
Hispanic 5.8%316
Other 4.8%263
Black 3.8%207
Asian 1.5%83
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of South Dakota. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
University of South Dakota offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
105 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 14 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$15,574
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$289M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$82,425
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
414 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
84
20%
$109,838
Associate Professors
89
21%
$87,216
Assistant Professors
112
27%
$80,984
Instructors
92
22%
$62,846
Lecturers
37
9%
$68,056
Pros & Cons of University of South Dakota
No college is right for everyone. Here is where University of South Dakota is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of South Dakota is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of South Dakota
The questions families ask most about University of South Dakota, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is University of South Dakota hard to get into?
Not especially. University of South Dakota admits most qualified applicants, with an acceptance rate of 98.8%. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at University of South Dakota?
98.8% of applicants are admitted. Most applicants who meet the basic requirements are admitted. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Dakota?
Aim for 1315 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1125 and 1315 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for University of South Dakota?
Aim for 25 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 19 and 25 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of South Dakota cost?
Budget around $19,858 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Dakota worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $51,926 a year against a net price of $19,858, about 2.6 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of South Dakota known for?
Mostly Nursing, Mental Health Services, Psychology. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do University of South Dakota graduates earn?
About $51,926 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of South Dakota accredited?
Yes. University of South Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of South Dakota?
5,439 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Dakota?
44% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is University of South Dakota a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is University of South Dakota located?
University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, South Dakota.
What programs does University of South Dakota offer?
105 different programs, most commonly Nursing, Mental Health Services, Psychology. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of South Dakota?
14 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in South Dakota
Other colleges in South Dakota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
IT Administration
Information Systems
Information Systems
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