Degrees Offered at The University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Online Business Graduate Degrees.
At the University of South Dakota, students can choose from 205 undergraduate majors and other academic choices, and 78 graduate programs. With 10 colleges and schools to choose from including a graduate school, a community college sector, and an online program, the opportunities here are plentiful and generous. The University of South Dakota has colleges in arts & sciences, business, education, fine arts, health sciences, law, and medicine.
First-year students have the opportunity to get involved in some of the university’s signature programs such as the honors program, which boasts small classes that bring students closer together with a curriculum that is enhanced to further nurture and enrich personal passions and natural talents. The University of South Dakota also has a signature undergraduate research program for students who wish to participate in rigorous and advanced research teams who present their findings at national conferences. The global learning and study abroad signature program allows students to cater to their educational careers by learning via an outdoor classroom. This program is centered around cultural sensitivity and international relationships. If community projects pique your interests, the service-learning signature program focuses on volunteering and service-based instruction.
If an in-person learning experience isn’t fitting for your schedule, USD offers over 50 online programs within its virtual classrooms. Students can earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as master’s certificates and associate’s through USD online. Consider an M.S. in Administration with an organizational leadership focus or an M.A. in Kinesiology & Sports Management (KSM) with a specialized focus in sports management. Undergraduate students can receive a B.A. or a B.S. in Criminal Justice, B.S. or M.A. in Addiction Studies, a B.S. in Health Science or a B.S. in Dental Hygiene.
Students can also earn a number of certificates including undergraduate certificates in healthcare analytics and/or addiction studies. Graduates can receive certificates in mental health counseling, disaster mental health and/or nonprofit management. All of these options are accessible for students who wish to learn via online instruction. The top fields of study include nursing, business, criminal justice, and psychology. For a full list of program offerings, visit the online programs page.
About The University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota takes pride in being a bigger university that has a small-town feel. Resting upon a scenic 274 acres, the community is comfortably tucked away in the bluffs along the Missouri River. Legislature for USD was first established in 1862 under the name of the University at Vermillion, but courses did not begin until 20 years later when the name of the university was officially changed to the University of South Dakota. USD is South Dakota’s oldest university. The first president and the first faculty member of USD was Ephraim Epstein. By the near end of 1883, the university appointed its first official public board. By the very end of 1883, the first 69 students were admitted to the University of South Dakota and by 1889, 500 students were enrolled. The very first academic college that was inaugurated was the College of Arts & Sciences in 1883. In 1901, the School of Law was initiated, followed by the School of Medicine in 1907 and the School of Education in 1916. The University of South Dakota’s graduate school was added in 1927 and the College of Fine Art in 1931. The University of South Dakota has been named one of the “Best National Universities” and the “Best for Rural Medicine” with one of the “Online Graduate Business Programs” by U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review deemed the university one of the “Best 382 Colleges” with one of the “Best Law Schools” and the “Best Business Schools.” The University of South Dakota was named one of “America’s Top Colleges” with “Top Research and Best in Midwest” by Forbes. With over 120 student organizations and clubs, life on campus is full of events including sports, hobby groups, religious groups, and social programs. The University of South Dakota’s sports teams participates in an NCAA Division 1 sector.
The University of South Dakota Accreditation Details
The University of South Dakota received institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges and Schools in the USA. The University of South Dakota’s computer science program is also individually accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. USD is an actively participating member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities as well as the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the Council of Graduate Schools. The University of South Dakota’s schools and programs including the School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Law, and the School of Medicine also have individual accreditation certificates for maintaining quality educational curriculums.
The University of South Dakota Application Requirements
First-year undergraduate students who are graduating from high school should have:
- SAT or SAT of 1070 or 21
- A high school GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 scale
- Rank in the upper 50th percentile of high school graduating class
- Receive a score of 3 or above on the English Language Arts & Maths Smarter Balanced Assessments
- 4 years of English, 3 years of Maths, 3 years of Lab Science, 3 years of Social Science, 1 year of Fine Arts (if graduating from a South Dakota high school)
- $20 application fee
- Official high school transcripts
First-year graduate students should have:
- An application through CAS (Centralized Application Service)
- $35 application fee
- Letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Official test scores
- Statement of purpose
Certain graduate programs have separate applications. The Graduate School Application homepage has a full list of distinct programs that require customized applications. Undergraduate students who wish to apply to USD Online can apply through the Common App. Mandatory documents are similar to those for undergraduate students applying for an in-person degree. Virtual graduate students must use USD’s online application portal to be considered for admissions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Online undergraduates will pay $351.25 per credit hour and online graduate students will pay $465.80 per credit hour. Active duty military personnel taking virtual courses will pay $250 per credit hour. Online students seeking associate’s degrees at the University Center in Sioux Falls (Community college location) will pay $284.50 per credit hours. Credit hour costs vary based on programs of choice. A full detailed list of tuition costs can be found on the Tuition and Fees page. The total tuition cost for undergraduate students who are residents of CO, IA, MT, ND, NE, and WY will be $18,562.50, students who are residents of MN will have total tuition of $18,924, and non-residents will have tuition of $22,038. Graduate students who are residents of the state will pay $336.80 per credit hour, and non-residents will pay $647.55. At USD, 67% of undergraduate students received scholarship awards averaging $3,605, as well as 28% of those receiving federal grants averaging $4,658. A more in-depth list of scholarships is available on the USD Tuition and Financial Aid homepage.
Whether you choose to participate in the on-campus courses offered at The University of South Dakota or the online courses, discovering your true abilities starts here.
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