South Dakota State University

Non-profit

Private

Regional

An annual enrollment of more than 12,000 students makes South Dakota State University the largest higher education institution in the state. This land-, space-, and sun-grant university sits on 261 acres in Brookings, where students participate in NCAA athletics, Greek and residential life, and more than 200 clubs and organizations. SDSU is one of the region's top research universities, with a particular emphasis on fields like agricultural science, engineering, human health and nutrition, and renewable energy. A diverse academic portfolio featuring more than 180 undergraduate, 50 graduate, and 30 online options, allows students to pursue degrees in disciplines including aerospace, military science, allied health, and the performing arts. Incoming first-year students must possess qualifying ACT or SAT scores (at least 18 and 950, respectively), a minimum 2.6 GPA, or a high school class rank in the top 60%. A complete application, official transcripts, and test scores are required for admission consideration.

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Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

71% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

84% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

72% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores:
Considered (not required)
High school transcript:
Required
High school rank:
Recommended
Letter of recommendation:
Considered (not required)
High school GPA:
Required
Open admission:
No
Completion of college prep program:
Recommended
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL):
Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment: Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes

Credit for qualified life experience*: Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

Learning Environment

Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

11%

Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

12:1

Student to faculty ratio

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Programs

Doc

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

Education

Engineering

English Language And Literature/Letters

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

Health Professions And Related Programs

History

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

Mathematics And Statistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

Philosophy And Religious Studies

Physical Sciences

Psychology

Social Sciences

Visual And Performing Arts