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University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota · Public · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$19,858What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
99%
Graduation rate
61%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,439
In-state tuition
$9,432Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$12,942
SAT midpoint
1,170
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$51,926Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$19,858

Better than 13% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

61%

Better than 70% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$51,926

Better than 41% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,592

Better than 22% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$24,422

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$19,858

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for University of South Dakota
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time61%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return79%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,592
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$51,926

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at University of South Dakota by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,758162
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$61,26532
Accounting and Related Services$57,23457
Economics$52,85722
Finance and Financial Management Services$49,47255
Marketing$48,06034
Business Administration, Management and Operations$47,10780
Special Education and Teaching$46,43914
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$44,10977
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$43,79075
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$42,5436
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$41,19154
Criminal Justice and Corrections$40,40255
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,90745
Communication and Media Studies$35,79251
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$33,8528
Political Science and Government$31,97322
Psychology, General$31,69682
Biology, General$30,16762
History$28,43110
English Language and Literature, General$26,95719
Fine and Studio Arts$25,32720
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported69
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported34
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reported15
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported13
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported12
AnthropologyNot reported11
SociologyNot reported9
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reported9
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported7
MusicNot reported6
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported6
Sustainability StudiesNot reported6
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported4
ChemistryNot reported3
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported3
PhysicsNot reported2
MathematicsNot reported2
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported2
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported1
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reported1
PhilosophyNot reported1
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reported1
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reportedNot reported
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported

All 49 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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