University of South Dakota

Admission to the University of South Dakota is open and accessible, with the university admitting nearly every student who applies. In the 2027 USNews national university rankings, the institution placed at rank 262, reflecting a slight rebound after dropping to rank 283 the year before. For the 2025 cycle, the overall undergraduate acceptance rate reached 98.8%, which was higher than 97% of 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. This virtually open-door admissions profile means that applicants who meet basic eligibility criteria face little competitive barrier to entry. When it comes to drawing admitted students, the university maintains a moderate pull. The yield rate in 2025 stood at 24.1%, meaning roughly one in four admitted applicants decided to enroll. While this shows that fewer than half of admitted students choose to attend, the rate was still higher than the peer median for similar public institutions. For prospective students, these figures suggest that acceptance is largely predictable, allowing applicants to focus on academic fit and college costs rather than admissions uncertainty.

Academic profiles among incoming freshmen at the University of South Dakota show standard college readiness, with standardized test scores aligning near national midpoints. In the 2025 admissions cycle, the school reported a median SAT score of 1205, which was higher than 87% of peer institutions in its comparison group of public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. Most enrolled students who tested submitted ACT results rather than SAT exams. For the ACT composite, the middle 50% of enrolled students scored between 19 and 25, reflecting broad accessibility for students with typical high school preparation. High school grade performance among admitted students leans positive, with the largest share of freshmen entering with unweighted grade point averages in the high-B to A range during the 2023-2024 academic year. Prospective applicants with mid-range standardized scores and consistent high school classroom marks can approach the application process with considerable confidence regarding their admission prospects.

Undergraduate studies at the University of South Dakota center primarily on health disciplines, though its highest academic standing is found at the graduate level. Bachelor's degrees are not heavily concentrated in a few majors, as the top three programs accounted for 24.2% of the 1,114 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. These popular undergraduate majors—led by Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, and Health Services—are not the institution's highest-ranked fields. Instead, the school's strongest showings in USNews rankings appear in specialized graduate healthcare, where audiology achieved rank 45 in 2026 and physician assistant studies held rank 48 in 2025. International students represented 2.7% of bachelor's degree recipients in 2025. Graduates from the university's core healthcare tracks see solid financial outcomes; according to 2023 data, nursing graduates earned a median first-year salary of $74,978. For prospective applicants, South Dakota offers reliable training in health professions that leads to well-paying entry-level positions, even if its most distinguished credentials remain at the graduate level.

In 2025, total enrollment reached 10,619 students, with White students comprising the primary majority across all divisions. International students represent a noticeable presence among incoming undergraduates, numbering 198 first-year students and accounting for 14% of that cohort. Graduate studies also draw international scholars, while continuing undergraduate groups show smaller international shares. Asian students make up a very small segment across campus, totaling 20 first-year undergraduates and representing minimal shares among continuing and graduate cohorts. Female students maintain a clear majority across both undergraduate classes and graduate divisions. Overall, the campus environment remains predominantly regional and domestic, though specific cohorts such as the first-year class and graduate research divisions provide pockets of international representation.

The undergraduate student population at the University of South Dakota is overwhelmingly composed of traditional college-age youth. In 2025, the 18-to-19 age bracket formed the single largest undergraduate group, accounting for 33.2% of all undergraduates, while students aged 20 to 21 made up another 29.5%. Together with a notable portion of dual-enrolled or early-college students under 18, this concentration creates a youthful campus atmosphere centered around standard undergraduate academic life and residential activities. In contrast, graduate enrollment reflects young adult learners transitioning from undergraduate study or beginning their early careers. The largest graduate group consisted of students aged 22 to 24, representing 34.8% of advanced-degree seekers. This distinct separation between a traditional undergraduate community and an early-career graduate cohort shapes a campus life divided between classic collegiate routines and focused professional training.

International enrollment at the University of South Dakota has expanded steadily across both undergraduate and graduate levels over the past decade. By 2025, undergraduate international students represented 5.4% of the undergraduate student body, an enrollment share that was higher than 93% of its peer group of public comprehensive universities with similar rankings. At the graduate level, international scholars made up 13.7% of all enrolled advanced students in the same year. Among degree recipients in 2025, international participation remained modest at the undergraduate level, where international students earned small single-digit shares across nursing and health fields. At the master's level, however, international students represented more than a quarter of all graduates. This graduate presence was overwhelmingly concentrated in technology studies, particularly in the master's program in Computer and Information Sciences, General, where international students made up 96.6% of all graduates. For international applicants, the university offers an established hub in advanced technical training alongside growing undergraduate representation.

Applicants evaluating the University of South Dakota have several public and private universities located within driving distance in the Upper Midwest. Approximately 106 kilometers away, South Dakota State University is a public peer holding rank 250 among national universities in the 2027 USNews rankings. Heading south into Nebraska, students can consider University of Nebraska at Omaha, ranked 299 and located roughly 115 kilometers from Vermillion. Also in Omaha, Creighton University is a private national university ranked 100, situated 116 kilometers away. Further south at a distance of 136 kilometers lies University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ranked 169 among national universities. These neighboring campuses offer alternative institutional sizes and academic environments within the broader regional corridor.

Campus safety metrics at the University of South Dakota show a substantial reduction in reported offenses over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 15.7 in 2016 to 3.9 in 2025, reaching its lowest point in the recorded period. For the three-year window covering 2023 through 2025, documented campus incidents were predominantly driven by alcohol-related policy enforcement. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol possession totaled 246 incidents over those three years, forming the vast majority of all recorded conduct matters, while alcohol-related arrests and drug referrals occurred far less frequently. Serious interpersonal offenses also appeared in administrative records between 2023 and 2025, including 30 reported incidents of rape and smaller counts of stalking and burglary. These numbers demonstrate that while low-level behavioral infractions regarding alcohol represent the most common safety issue on campus, institutional reports also reflect ongoing tracking of personal safety violations that families should consider when assessing campus life.