Public, Top-Tier USD Education in Vermillion and Online
The University of South Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Great College Deals: Master of Public Administration Online.
The University of South Dakota is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report’s as the 226th best. It has a 16:1 student/faculty ratio. It offeers:
- four associate degrees
- 76 bachelor’s degrees
- 34 master’s degrees
- 19 doctoral degrees
- 40 certificate programs
These include 38 online degrees programs. It has a 75 percent retention. For example, the 120-credit B.A. in Psychology lets undergrads:
- research in the Heimstra Human Factors Lab
- declare a Disaster Mental Health minor
- pledge Psi Chi
- attend the Building Bridges Conference
The B.S. in Media & Journalism has experiential opportunities like:
- publishing The Volante
- running KAOR 91.1FM
- interning at Nexstar Group
- working on Coyote Creative projects
Online via Desire2Learn, the M.A. in Addiction Studies builds a 45-credit, two-year curriculum It prepares aspiring drug abuse counselors to achieve BAPP certification. It has a 95 percent job placement after three-credit internships like Keystone Treatment or Compass Point.
The Ph.D. in Biological Sciences develops a tough 72-credit STEM plan specializing in:
- Bioinformatics
- Integrative Biology
- or Neuroscience tracks
Other South Dakota degrees include:
- the B.A. in Political Science
- B.A. in Creative Writing
- B.S. in Kinesiology
- Executive Master of Public Administration
- M.M. in Music Education
- M.S. in Physics
- M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration
- Ph.D. in Counseling
- Ph.D. in Health Sciences
About the University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota originated in 1862 when the Dakota Territory’s 1st Legislature signed legislation to create the University of Vermillion. In 1882, an inaugural class of 69 was finally welcomed by President Ephraim Epstein. The next year, the College of Arts & Sciences was established. In 1901, Senator Thomas Sterling opened South Dakota’s School of Law. In 1914, the week-long Dakota Days homecoming tradition began.
Fully accredited since 1913, it was renamed the State University of South Dakota in 1959. Five years after, the current University of South Dakota title was chosen by the Board of Regents. In 1979, the famed DakotaDome was built atop its 363-acre Vermillion site. In Fall 2003, the Al Neuharth Media Center was dedicated to the USA Today founder.
Endowed for $214.5 million, the University of South Dakota now employs 437 faculty teaching 10,066 students from 77 countries. Programs are online and in Clay County. It has 150+ clubs like Health Executives Advancing in Leadership (HEAL).
Forbes placed South Dakota 497th overall with the 201st most impactful research. On Niche, USD was ranked America’s:
- 181st top teaching
- 193rd best nursing
- 212th best accounting
- 231st top communications
The Wall Street Journal included USD among the globe’s 800 best institutions. Money Magazine declared USD the 345th top value with a PayScale ROI of $208,000. National Jurist graded the School of Law “A” with the Upper Midwest’s lowest debt. Washington Monthly also named the University of South Dakota 191st nationally for social mobility.
University of South Dakota Accreditation Details
The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association The 2018-19 Catalog also listed the following degree accreditations:
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- American Bar Association Section of Legal Education
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
- National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
- American Dental Association Commission on Accreditation
- Council on Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
University of South Dakota Application Requirements
Starting at the University of South Dakota is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 3,534 of the 4,199 Fall 2017 applicants were accepted. This is an 86 percent acceptance. First-year students must complete core high school course prerequisites, including four English units, with a C or better. Cumulative GED scores of 2250 and higher are deemed sufficient.
Freshmen must rank in the upper 50th percentile or meet a 2.6 GPA. Reaching at least the 21 ACT or 1070 SAT mark is mandated. Grades of 3 and higher on the Smarter Balanced Assessments would even count. Transfers generally need 24+ semester credits at 2.0 GPAs to avoid probation.
The Graduate School only seeks post-bachelor’s students with GPAs above 2.7. Doctor of Physical Therapy cohorts need 3.2 GPAs plus 50 observation hours. The Master of Professional Accountancy has prerequisites like Statistics and Corporate Finance. The M.S. in Biology demands GRE scores over the 50th percentile. School of Law entrants present a median 147 LSAT mark.
The University of South Dakota has rolling admission for U.S. residents. However, international learners with a 6.0 IELTS score or equivalent must apply by July 1st for Fall or November 15th for Spring. The B.S. in Dental Hygiene has a February 1st deadline. BSN cohorts must file by January 15th or July 15th. The School of Health Sciences considers MSW entrants until December 1st yearly. The M.S. in Chemistry has a priority date of October 15th. Accordingly, check program requirements before submitting the $20 ($35 if graduate) USD Application online. Have official transcripts shipped to 414 East Clark Street in Vermillion, SD 57069. For testing results, select ACT code 3928 or SAT/GRE code 6881.
Supplemental materials may include:
- a housing preference form
- admission essay
- immunization record
- teacher/supervisor evaluation(s)
- current résumé
- immigration document
Contact (877) 269-6837 or admissions@usd.edu with more questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of South Dakota is charging full-time Mount Rushmore State undergrads $9,331 annually. Minnesota residents are billed $9,408 each year. Other non-resident tuition jumps to $12,807. International students add a $100 fee per term. Living at the Vermillion campus’ dorms costs $4,280 for yearly rent. All-access meal plans are $3,751 extra. USD estimates $1,200 for books and supplies.
Annual bachelor’s attendance equals:
- $18,562 in-state
- $18,639 in Minnesota
- $22,038 out-of-state
Online undergrad courses are priced $340 per credit. The Graduate School generally bills South Dakotans $379 and non-residents $680 per credit. SD National Guard members pay only $216 per credit. Online master’s and doctoral courses are $450 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office gets 55 percent of full-time USD a median assistance of $5,115 each or $21.10 million combined. University funds include:
- the Beacom Family Business Scholarship
- Al Neuharth Journalism Scholarship
- Spearfish Area Scholarship
- Sanford School of Medicine Scholarship
- Rawlins Scholarship
- Ullyot Scholarship
- Nolop Institute Medical Biology Scholarship
- Dorothy Schieffer Political Science Scholarship
- Walter & Lucy Yoshiko Buhler Scholarship
- Beverly Behrens Art Education Scholarship
- Koch Hazard Architects Scholarship
- Mickelson Scholarship
The Presidential Alumni Scholarship covers full in-state tuition for freshmen meeting 27 ACT or 1280 SAT marks. The $2,000 Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship has an April 1st deadline for transfers with GPAs above 3.0. Completing FAFSA forms coded 003471 determines federal aid, including Stafford Loan, eligibility.
Also available are state-level programs like:
- the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
- Dakota Corps Scholarship
- Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship.
Explore the 170+ accredited programs of study across eight schools on the University of South Dakota website.