South Dakota: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

South Dakota is a public institution located in Vermillion, South Dakota. For the most recent reporting cycle, South Dakota admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 99%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1205 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,858 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for South Dakota?

56% of enrolled students at South Dakota had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.47, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does South Dakota weight in admissions?

South Dakota reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores South Dakota typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 595–695, with an EBRW midpoint near 575. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–25. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does South Dakota actually cost?

Published tuition is $9,432 for in-state students and $12,942 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,356 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,858 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for South Dakota

Will my child graduate from South Dakota?

These predict outcomes at South Dakota better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at South Dakota

The most popular undergraduate programs at South Dakota, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. Across all programs, South Dakota confers roughly 676 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $73,993 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is South Dakota safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), South Dakota disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at South Dakota?

About 37% of undergraduates at South Dakota live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 20% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in South Dakota parents ask about

• South Dakota State University
  98% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Northeastern State University
  100% acceptance · Oklahoma
• Emporia State University
  98% acceptance · Kansas
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  97% acceptance · Colorado
• University of Wyoming
  97% acceptance · Wyoming
• University of Maine
  97% acceptance · Maine
• University of Mississippi
  97% acceptance · Mississippi
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas
  96% acceptance · Nevada

Common questions parents ask about South Dakota