South Dakota State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Brookings, South Dakota. It enrolls 9,198 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes67
Value53
Affordability32
Selectivity18
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.3%, South Dakota State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1240
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether South Dakota State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South Dakota State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,841 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,841
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,299
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,809
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,176
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,075
Books & Supplies
$750
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,874
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,734
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,636
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,266
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,248
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,073
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,706
Over $110,000
$21,886
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,75025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$26,98375%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,250
↓ $5,000
No Pell $14,791
↓ $8,459
Dependent students $16,282
↓ $6,968
Independent students $15,917
↓ $7,333
Female students $17,500
↓ $5,750
Male students $15,000
↓ $8,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at South Dakota State University graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Dakota State University earn a median of $55,070 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,070
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,700, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South Dakota State University is home to 9,198 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
9,198
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 84.2%7,744
International 4.2%387
Hispanic 3.0%275
Other 2.9%270
Black 1.5%133
Asian 1.3%121
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Dakota State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBrookings, South Dakota
Housing
Mostly residential4,499 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
South Dakota State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
139 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Dakota State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,847
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$237M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,359
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
508 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
115
23%
$115,042
Associate Professors
105
21%
$96,523
Assistant Professors
122
24%
$84,163
Instructors
83
16%
$61,189
Lecturers
83
16%
$74,400
Pros & Cons of South Dakota State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Dakota State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, South Dakota State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Dakota State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Dakota State University.
Is South Dakota State University hard to get into?
South Dakota State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at South Dakota State University?
South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for South Dakota State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at South Dakota State University scored between 1060 and 1240 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for South Dakota State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at South Dakota State University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does South Dakota State University cost?
The average net price after aid at South Dakota State University is $19,841 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Dakota State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,070 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,841 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Dakota State University known for?
South Dakota State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Animal Sciences, Business Statistics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Dakota State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Dakota State University are $55,070, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Dakota State University accredited?
Yes. South Dakota State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend South Dakota State University?
South Dakota State University enrolls 9,198 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Dakota State University?
South Dakota State University graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Dakota State University a public or private college?
South Dakota State University is a Public institution.
Where is South Dakota State University located?
South Dakota State University is located in Brookings, South Dakota.
What programs does South Dakota State University offer?
South Dakota State University offers 139 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Animal Sciences, Business Statistics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Dakota State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Dakota State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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