Resources › For Students and Parents University of South Dakota Admissions ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid, Tuition, Graduation Rate & More Share Flipboard Email Print University of South Dakota Student Wellness Center. Jrobb525 / Wikimedia Commons For Students and Parents College Admissions College Profiles College Admissions Process College Rankings Choosing A College Application Tips Essay Samples & Tips Testing Graphs College Financial Aid Advanced Placement Homework Help Private School Test Prep College Life Graduate School Business School Law School Distance Learning View More By Allen Grove Allen Grove Facebook Twitter College Admissions Expert Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on August 07, 2017 University of South Dakota Description: The University of South Dakota is a public university located on a 274-acre campus in Vermillion, a small city less than an hour northwest of Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1862, USD is the state's oldest university. The campus has been undergoing major renovation and expansion in recent years. Students can choose from 132 majors and minors supported by a 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio. High achieving students should look into the university's Honors Program for a more personalized and challenging undergraduate experience. Social life at USD is active with over 120 student clubs and organizations. On the athletic front, the University of South Dakota Coyotes compete in the NCAA Division I Summit League. Popular sports include football, track and field, soccer, and basketball. Admissions Data (2016): University of South Dakota Acceptance Rate: 88% Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile SAT Critical Reading: 440 / 610 SAT Math: 450 / 590 SAT Writing: - / - What these SAT numbers mean ACT Composite: 20 / 25 ACT English: 19 / 25 ACT Math: 19 / 26 ACT Writing: - / - What these ACT numbers mean Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 10,038 (7,500 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 38% Male / 62% Female66% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $8,457 (in-state); $11,688 (out-of-state) Books: $1,200 (why so much?) Room and Board: $7,535 Other Expenses: $4,185 Total Cost: $21,377 (in-state); $24,608 (out-of-state) University of South Dakota Financial Aid (2015 - 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 95%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 80%Loans: 67%Average Amount of AidGrants: $4,817Loans: $7,068 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Contemporary Media/Journalism, Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene, Elementary Education, Psychology Transfer, Retention and Graduation Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 76%Transfer Out Rate: 29%4-Year Graduation Rate: 34%6-Year Graduation Rate: 54% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Men's Sports: Football, Swimming, Golf, Basketball, Track and FieldWomen's Sports: Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like the University of South Dakota, You May Also Like These Schools: South Dakota State University: Profile University of Wyoming: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph University of Iowa: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Boise State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph University of Wisconsin - Madison: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Creighton University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Colorado State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Minnesota State University - Mankato: Profile University of Nebraska: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Augustana University: Profile Black Hills State University: Profile University of North Dakota: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph University of South Dakota Mission Statement: mission statement from http://www.usd.edu/about-usd/mission-and-values "The University of South Dakota offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs within the South Dakota System of Higher Education. As the oldest university in the state, the University of South Dakota serves as the flagship and the only public liberal arts university in the state." Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Grove, Allen. "University of South Dakota Admissions." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/university-of-south-dakota-admissions-788142. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 25). University of South Dakota Admissions. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-south-dakota-admissions-788142 Grove, Allen. "University of South Dakota Admissions." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-south-dakota-admissions-788142 (accessed May 31, 2023). copy citation