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South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University admits nearly everyone — 98.3% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether South Dakota State University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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South Dakota State University anchors the college town of Brookings, SD, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, where graduates median $122,169 four years out. Faculty pay averages $122,772 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 9,198 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 83.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1040 and 1300 — near the SD middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on South Dakota State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1040–1300 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, South Dakota State University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 570 | 640 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 580 | 660 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, South Dakota State University received 5,884 applications and admitted 5,808 (98.7%), with 2,274 enrolling.
How South Dakota State University compares
| South Dakota State University | South Dakota median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 98.3% | 84.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,299 | $10,077 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $55,070 | $51,926 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median South Dakota State University student earns $55,070 — 6% above the South Dakota median of $51,926 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, South Dakota State University prices by residency: $9,299 in-state versus $12,809 out-of-state — a $3,510 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
South Dakota State University enrolls 9,198 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs South Dakota State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
62.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 38% don't — ask a South Dakota State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at South Dakota State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $122,169 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $103,018 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $93,195 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,704 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $83,815 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,486 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $79,322 |
| Plant Sciences | $78,494 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $77,932 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $73,360 |
| Political Science and Government | $70,727 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $67,746 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $67,607 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $67,425 |
| Mathematics | $67,059 |
| Economics | $64,432 |
| Architecture | $63,978 |
| Agriculture, General | $61,132 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $60,081 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $57,986 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $57,725 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $56,400 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $56,132 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,345 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $54,646 |
| Biology, General | $54,446 |
| Animal Sciences | $53,784 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $52,630 |
| Sociology | $51,910 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $50,623 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,420 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,335 |
| Psychology, General | $50,210 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $50,076 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $48,319 |
| History | $46,502 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $46,487 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,934 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $40,969 |
Median earnings for these 39 South Dakota State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $55,070 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 40 additional South Dakota State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for South Dakota State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1040–1300 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 98.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is South Dakota State University's acceptance rate?
98.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,808 admitted from 5,884 applicants.
How much does South Dakota State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,299; out-of-state students pay $12,809. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do South Dakota State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $55,070 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Dakota
- Northern State University — 93% admitted
- University of South Dakota — 98.8% admitted
- Dakota State University — 88% admitted
- Black Hills State University — 96.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.