What University of South Dakota costs
University of South Dakota charges $9,432 a year in published tuition and fees for South Dakota residents, about $4,716 a semester, and $12,942 a year for students from other states, about $6,471 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $24,422 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $19,499 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
University of South Dakota takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into University of South Dakota
For fall 2024, University of South Dakota received 5,965 applications and admitted 5,892 students, and 1,418 enrolled as first-years. The middle half of enrolled students who sent SAT scores scored between 1125 and 1315.
What University of South Dakota students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at University of South Dakota (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing / Registered Nurse | 126 |
| Business Administration and Management | 80 |
| Health Services / Allied Health / Health Sciences | 73 |
| Psychology | 71 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 59 |
| Accounting | 56 |
| Biomedical Sciences | 53 |
| Mass Communication / Media Studies | 46 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges like University of South Dakota
Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (small town or rural), closest in size and nearest in region:
- University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri: 5,648 undergraduates
- Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota: 5,144 undergraduates
- University of Wisconsin–Platteville, Platteville, Wisconsin: 5,837 undergraduates
- University of Wisconsin–Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin: 5,842 undergraduates
- Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan: 6,556 undergraduates
See more colleges like University of South Dakota in the College Filter →
Lists that include University of South Dakota
- Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
- Division I Colleges: 353 Compared
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges: 176 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities in the Midwest: 58 Compared
- Division I Colleges in the Midwest: 69 Compared
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges in the Midwest: 50 Compared
FAQ
What is University of South Dakota's acceptance rate? 98.8% for fall 2024: 5,892 of 5,965 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at University of South Dakota? $9,432 a year for in-state students and $12,942 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is University of South Dakota part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with University of South Dakota about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to University of South Dakota? About 5,400 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What SAT scores do University of South Dakota students have? The middle half of enrolled students scored 1125–1315.
What is the campus setting at University of South Dakota? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as a small town or rural area.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of South Dakota (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: University of South Dakota
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
