Colleges › South Dakota › University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota is based in the town of Vermillion, SD — a public campus in a small-town setting. International students are a visible presence at University of South Dakota — 6.9% of its 5,439 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$13,687

family income
under $30k

$16,400

$30–48k

$18,608

$48–75k

$21,259

$75–110k

$21,432

over $110k

Average net price

$19,8582023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of South Dakota rose from $12,920 (2008) to $19,858 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$12,920
2009	$13,233
2010	$13,843
2011	$15,315
2012	$15,442
2013	$16,129
2014	$16,396
2015	$17,078
2016	$17,359
2017	$18,075
2018	$18,555
2019	$19,389
2020	$19,415
2021	$19,499
2022	$19,155
2023	$19,858

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$24,4222024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of South Dakota rose from $15,747 (2009) to $24,422 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$15,747
2010	$16,732
2011	$17,426
2012	$18,852
2013	$18,843
2014	$19,695
2015	$20,129
2016	$20,806
2017	$21,239
2018	$21,622
2019	$22,248
2020	$23,016
2021	$23,245
2022	$23,178
2023	$23,544
2024	$24,422

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,678	$7,894
2001	$3,884	$8,240
2002	$4,131	$8,663
2003	$4,485	$9,510
2004	$4,748	$9,915
2005	$5,150	$10,470
2006	$5,410	$10,942
2007	$5,752	$11,506
2008	$5,828	—
2013	$8,022	$10,104
2014	$8,022	$10,794
2015	$8,457	$11,338
2016	$8,457	$11,688
2017	$8,772	$12,019
2018	$9,061	$12,425
2019	$9,332	$12,807
2020	$9,332	$12,807
2021	$9,432	$12,942
2022	$9,432	$12,942
2023	$9,432	$12,942

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of South Dakota reports tuition of $9,432 for in-state students and $12,942 for out-of-state students. Check University of South Dakota’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 5,439 undergrads, University of South Dakota is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

59.9% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of South Dakota within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

59.9%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of South Dakota rose from 45.1% (entered 1991) to 59.9% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	45.1%
1992 cohort	44.2%
1993 cohort	37.4%
1994 cohort	39.3%
1995 cohort	48.4%
1996 cohort	44.6%
1997 cohort	51.7%
1998 cohort	45.8%
1999 cohort	47.2%
2000 cohort	51.4%
2001 cohort	47.5%
2002 cohort	48.4%
2003 cohort	47.3%
2004 cohort	49%
2005 cohort	48.2%
2006 cohort	49.9%
2007 cohort	55.1%
2008 cohort	55.5%
2009 cohort	52.4%
2010 cohort	54.9%
2011 cohort	55.2%
2012 cohort	57.9%
2013 cohort	59.4%
2014 cohort	60%
2015 cohort	60.1%
2016 cohort	57.2%
2017 cohort	61.4%
2018 cohort	59.9%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,805	$4,341
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$15,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$15,096	$5,028
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$14,500	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$14,320	$3,772
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,375	$3,666
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,375	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,500	$3,650
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,000	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,354	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,125	$6,654
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,625	$7,133
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,951	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,016	$7,572
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$22,218	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$23,750	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$25,000	$7,850
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$25,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$8,651
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,937	$9,169
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,500	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,592	$8,782

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$46,290

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$51,509

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$51,926

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of South Dakota admitted 5,892 of 5,965 applicants in Fall 2024. The 98.8% rate describes that application pool.

98.8%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,432 in-state tuition · 2023–24 5,439 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1125–13151600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of South Dakota received 5,965 applications and admitted 5,892 (98.8%), with 1,418 enrolling.

University of South Dakota reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For University of South Dakota’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 530–620 and Math was 595–695 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1125–1315 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	530	570	620
SAT Math	595	635	695
ACT Composite	19	22	25

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

98.8%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	10.6%
Fall 2004	64.5%
Fall 2005	86.1%
Fall 2006	86.1%
Fall 2007	79.8%
Fall 2008	83%
Fall 2009	87%
Fall 2010	84.8%
Fall 2011	88.9%
Fall 2012	88.6%
Fall 2013	87.9%
Fall 2014	88.8%
Fall 2015	73.5%
Fall 2016	88.1%
Fall 2017	86.9%
Fall 2018	85.8%
Fall 2019	86.4%
Fall 2020	91%
Fall 2021	87%
Fall 2022	99.5%
Fall 2023	99%
Fall 2024	98.8%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1125–1315Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	960	1230
Fall 2005	890	1220
Fall 2006	920	1140
Fall 2008	950	1265
Fall 2009	970	1270
Fall 2010	910	1270
Fall 2011	920	1130
Fall 2012	920	1230
Fall 2014	870	1050
Fall 2015	900	1130
Fall 2016	890	1200
Fall 2017	1010	1230
Fall 2018	1030	1260
Fall 2019	990	1180
Fall 2020	1000	1245
Fall 2021	1050	1290
Fall 2022	1020	1300
Fall 2023	1110	1330
Fall 2024	1125	1315

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–25Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	19	25
Fall 2004	20	25
Fall 2005	20	25
Fall 2006	20	25
Fall 2007	19	25
Fall 2008	20	25
Fall 2009	20	25
Fall 2010	20	25
Fall 2011	20	26
Fall 2012	21	26
Fall 2013	21	26
Fall 2014	20	25
Fall 2015	20	25
Fall 2016	20	25
Fall 2017	20	25
Fall 2018	20	25
Fall 2019	19	25
Fall 2020	20	25
Fall 2021	19	25
Fall 2022	19	25
Fall 2023	19	25
Fall 2024	19	25

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

5,439Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of South Dakota has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 6,449 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 5,439.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	5,202
Fall 2003	5,235
Fall 2004	5,402
Fall 2005	5,728
Fall 2006	5,751
Fall 2007	5,984
Fall 2008	6,036
Fall 2009	6,043
Fall 2010	6,103
Fall 2011	6,220
Fall 2012	6,416
Fall 2013	6,449
Fall 2014	6,331
Fall 2015	6,205
Fall 2016	6,153
Fall 2017	6,171
Fall 2018	6,228
Fall 2019	5,998
Fall 2020	5,684
Fall 2021	5,328
Fall 2022	5,265
Fall 2023	5,239
Fall 2024	5,439

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

79%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of South Dakota rose from 68% (Fall 2003) to 79% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	68%
Fall 2004 cohort	69%
Fall 2005 cohort	71%
Fall 2006 cohort	72%
Fall 2007 cohort	76%
Fall 2008 cohort	73%
Fall 2009 cohort	75%
Fall 2010 cohort	78%
Fall 2011 cohort	75%
Fall 2012 cohort	76%
Fall 2013 cohort	74%
Fall 2014 cohort	77%
Fall 2015 cohort	76%
Fall 2016 cohort	72%
Fall 2017 cohort	77%
Fall 2018 cohort	78%
Fall 2019 cohort	81%
Fall 2020 cohort	77%
Fall 2021 cohort	82%
Fall 2022 cohort	80%
Fall 2023 cohort	79%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about University of South Dakota

18.7% of University of South Dakota's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes University of South Dakota as a primarily residential campus of 5,439 undergraduates — and 79.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of South Dakota's SAT section-percentile sums are 1125–1315 — their midpoint is near the SD four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on University of South Dakota's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of South Dakota compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of South Dakota98.8%

South Dakota median84.6%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of South Dakota$9,432

South Dakota median$10,077

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of South Dakota's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of South Dakota$51,926

South Dakota median$51,926

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of South Dakota, South Dakota and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of South Dakota	South Dakota median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	98.8%	84.6%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,432	$10,077	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$51,926	$51,926	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of South Dakota, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of South Dakota federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 24 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$74,816
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$73,025
Economics	$71,463
Accounting and Related Services	$71,179
Finance and Financial Management Services	$70,100
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	$68,556
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$64,890
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	$64,104
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$64,069
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$61,518
Political Science and Government	$61,362
Biology, General	$58,099
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$58,046
Marketing	$55,261
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	$52,211
Communication and Media Studies	$52,100
Psychology, General	$50,993
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$50,306
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$50,270
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$46,034
Special Education and Teaching	$45,415
History	$45,096
Fine and Studio Arts	$43,945
English Language and Literature, General	$31,155

These 24 fields listed for University of South Dakota measure earnings after completion. The $51,926 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 25 additional University of South Dakota fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of South Dakota report?

University of South Dakota's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1125–1315 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is University of South Dakota's acceptance rate?

98.8% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 5,892 admitted from 5,965 applicants.

How much does University of South Dakota cost?

In-state tuition is $9,432; out-of-state students pay $12,942. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of South Dakota report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $51,926. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in South Dakota

South Dakota State University — 98.3% admitted
Northern State University — 93% admitted
Dakota State University — 88% admitted
Black Hills State University — 96.3% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.