University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
About University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota is a public research university in Vermillion, South Dakota, serving roughly 5,439 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 98.78% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,926 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of South Dakota charges 71% above the national public median tuition ($9,432).
- Versus the South Dakota median, sticker tuition is 7% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 59.91%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $51,926.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of South Dakota is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 554% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of South Dakota awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 85 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota | $9,432 | $19,858 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,845 | $15,911 | 19 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of South Dakota really?
Key findings
- University of South Dakota charges 71% above the national public median tuition ($9,432).
- Versus the South Dakota median, sticker tuition is 7% above.
University of South Dakota tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $9,432
Finding University of South Dakota charges 71% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $9,432. That is 71% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the South Dakota median ($8,845), sticker tuition is 7% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 21% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of South Dakota versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of South Dakota versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of South Dakota is $19,858.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,858 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,947 above the South Dakota median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,887 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of South Dakota, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of South Dakota: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of South Dakota—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$9,432
Out-of-state tuition
$12,942
Avg. net price
$19,858
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $14,921 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,942 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,540 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,202 |
| $110,001+ | $22,193 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $37,728. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of South Dakota is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General195
- Computer and Information Sciences, General138
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse126
- Clinical/Medical Social Work95
- Health Professions and Related Programs90
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 26% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1125
- Midpoint ACT: 22
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of South Dakota a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of South Dakota is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of South Dakota.
Campus
Location
Vermillion, SD
City / state
- ZIP
- 57069-2390
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 33% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
5,439
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 9,746
- Graduate
- 3,000
- Full-time share
- 88%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,592
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 18.66%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of South Dakota.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of South Dakota was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of South Dakota in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,022 | $10,104 | $15,442 |
| 2014 | $8,022 | $10,794 | $16,129 |
| 2015 | $8,457 | $11,338 | $16,396 |
| 2016 | $8,457 | $11,688 | $17,078 |
| 2017 | $8,772 | $12,019 | $17,359 |
| 2018 | $9,061 | $12,425 | $18,075 |
| 2019 | $9,332 | $12,807 | $18,555 |
| 2020 | $9,332 | $12,807 | $19,389 |
| 2021 | $9,432 | $12,942 | $19,415 |
| 2022 | $9,432 | $12,942 | $19,499 |
| 2023 | $9,432 | $12,942 | $19,155 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1125 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 22 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of South Dakota reported total enrollment of about 5,439 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.0%), Non-Resident Alien (6.9%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.8%). About 18.66% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of South Dakota in 2024 is 5,439 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,746 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,000 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
47.35% 100% Completion Time
59.91% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 47.35% of students graduating from University of South Dakota completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
- Computer and Information Sciences, General: 83% male / 17% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of South Dakota graduates earn a median of $51,926 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of South Dakota.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $51,926. Median federal loan debt: $23,592. Average net price used in cost models: $19,858.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of South Dakota graduates report median earnings of $51,926 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of South Dakota.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (85 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of South Dakota.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of South Dakota graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of South Dakota—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$289.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- South Dakota median 8.5× the median ($34M)
- Plains median 12× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 11× the median ($26.4M)
- South Dakota median 1.6× the median ($25,074)
- Plains median 2.6× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 3.2× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 65.2%
- South Dakota median 0.4 pp below median (65.7%)
- Plains median 0.5 pp above median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 7.3 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,264
- South Dakota median 1.3× the median ($7,234)
- Plains median 1.3× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,862
- South Dakota median 1.6× the median ($7,480)
- Plains median 1.5× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of South Dakota at a glance
University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota is a public institution in Vermillion, SD, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralComputer and Information Sciences, GeneralRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian76.0%Non-Resident Alien6.9%Hispanic or Latino5.8%
Schools near University of South Dakota
Other campuses in Vermillion, SD when available, plus nearby institutions in South Dakota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within South Dakota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of South Dakota located?
University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, SD.
What is University of South Dakota's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of South Dakota is 98.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,349 applicants and 5,293 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is University of South Dakota's tuition?
University of South Dakota tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $9,432 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,858 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does University of South Dakota cost?
Reported tuition is $9,432 and average net price is $19,858 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,356 annually.
What explains University of South Dakota's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,858), completion (59.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($51,926). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at University of South Dakota?
University of South Dakota reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,746 students, White (76.0%), Non-Resident Alien (6.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of South Dakota?
About 24.3% of students at University of South Dakota are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of South Dakota?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of South Dakota reports midpoint SAT about 1125 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of University of South Dakota earn?
Median earnings are $46,290 six years after entry and $51,926 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of South Dakota?
The 150%-time completion rate is 59.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of South Dakota students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,592.
Is University of South Dakota public or private?
University of South Dakota is a public institution located in Vermillion, SD.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- South Dakota college profile
- South Dakota college costs
- South Dakota colleges by ROI
- South Dakota State University vs University of South Dakota vs Dakota State University
- Plains regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in South Dakota
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.