Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University. is a Public college. Located in South Dakota, which is a city setting in South Dakota, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 10,946 full time undergraduate students, and 1,654 full time graduate students.
The South Dakota State University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 17:1. There are 551 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at South Dakota State University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
90%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
20
SAT Range
890-1160
ACT Range
20-26
Admissions at SDSU are considered Less Selective, with ,47% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 44 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
69% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 36% were in the top quarter, and 11% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at South Dakota State University.
2%
“We”re apathetic”
41%
“We know about current events and vote”
55%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
16%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
7%
“I only go out in groups”
39%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
55%
“I feel extremely safe”
7%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
23%
“We bought the gear”
70%
“We live for the big game”
12%
“It”s not really our thing”
16%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
65%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
7%
“We”re a very artistic group”
7%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
61%
“They keep regular office hours”
30%
“They”re always available”
2%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
48%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
50%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
5%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
30%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
23%
“We only party on weekends”
43%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
9%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
77%
“There might be people who do”
11%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
2%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
41%
“We know about current events and vote”
55%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
16%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
7%
“I only go out in groups”
39%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
55%
“I feel extremely safe”
7%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
23%
“We bought the gear”
70%
“We live for the big game”
12%
“It”s not really our thing”
16%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
65%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
7%
“We”re a very artistic group”
7%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
61%
“They keep regular office hours”
30%
“They”re always available”
2%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
48%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
50%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
119 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
95 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
124 Students rated campus food 3.4 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
128 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 30 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
128 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
128 Students rated school activities 4 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
128 Students rated local services 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
129 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.
South Dakota State University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of South Dakota State University?
52 Students rated South Dakota State University
Karley - 01/24/2023
Great campus it is clean and kept up. Great students friendly easy to get to know. Great staff very knowledgeable, kind and available. The football team is doing well. There are good food choices. There is an ice cream shop on campus that makes its own ice cream. I Love It. The mascot is a jack rabbit. GO JACKS!
Keeley - 03/01/2022
I feel like there are a lot of good opportunities in or around campus, the student just has to make the effort to join the clubs and partake in the activates on campus. I know where I am in the biology section of the college I miss my agriculture roots and I do have the chance to still be in touch with agriculture by being on this campus
Sierra - 06/03/2021
I decided to join South Dakota State because it has a beautiful campus with a lot of unique and wonderful people. Campus is always lively and there is always something going on for students to do. SDSU is really good at sports and the fans at sports events are always animated. There are lots of opportunities to be successful!
Abigail - 06/20/2020
I love South Dakota for many reasons but SDSU makes you feel like family the moment you set foot on campus. They want you there and they don't play any games about it; they are truthful and extremely knowledgable. SDSU is the place to be and they treat us all like people not just a number like other large schools.
Sydney - 01/14/2020
South Dakota State University is a wonderful place to learn, grow, and become your own person. There are many opportunities to meet new friends, yet it is still super easy to keep any old ones. The college life is awesome, full of engaging student opportunities.
Anna - 12/05/2019
When I drove onto South Dakota's campus i was immediately in love. I love the environment and the town that it is in! I think that it is incredibly pretty and there are many things to do. There are a lot of things to be involved in and i think that that is so wonderful. I am extremely excited to attend this beautiful college next fall!
Alison - 11/06/2019
The campus is very large and has a lot of diversity. There are majors of all sorts, in fact; SDSU is the only school in South Dakota that has an Interior Design program. There are so many different activities that you can participate in. They have a building called the "Barn", that is mainly used for inter mural sports. There are two different options for food there. Blocks and flex money and blocks you use one every time you check in, and can eat all you can from that period you're there. When flex is used a the Student Union it is truly like a mall food court, so many options. I have an overall great feeling at attending this school in the fall of 2020.
Nichole - 08/10/2019
South Dakota State University is a pretty average school. Their academics and facilities are also pretty average as well. As a current student, one of my favorite things about South Dakota State is the student life. There are new people to meet and I'm proud to be a Jackrabbit!
Mackenzie - 06/24/2019
It is a great place to learn and grow into your career. It is the biggest university in South Dakota so the class sizes are pretty big but other then that SDSU is the perfect place to study anything especially nursing as it is the best nursing school in the state.
Mariah - 04/23/2019
I believe it is a very safe, and caring campus. Visiting this campus makes me get a “home-like” feel and that’s what people should want in a university. SDSU has a safe environment and so much to do for any person out there. Everybody has their differences, but at SDSU, this is no problem.
Rena - 03/09/2019
I enjoy going there. I have met some of my best friends and couldn’t see myself at any other college. It is a very conservative school, which I was expecting, just not to the extent I have experienced. Overall though, it is a great college. I am studying pre-pharmacy with minors in Spanish and Health Communications. I like the feeling of living in a college town on a set campus, instead of living in a city that happens to also have a University. Many of the dorms are new and nicer than most other colleges, however the older ones are quite the opposite.
jacob - 02/24/2019
it is a great place and feels like home and I don't feel like a number like other schools I visited and the school is set up to provide a top notch education for your lifes work. Every one at the school is there to help in any way to make your collage life some thing to remember.
Symmone - 12/27/2018
I believe it is a wonderful school with plenty of opportunities. It's a larger school but still maintains that small-college/ small-town feel. The community is kind and receptive to students, and the professors are great people. There's usual something to do on the weekends, and it's pretty easy to meet new people.
I think that South Dakota State University is an extraordinary school, education and campus included. I've stayed on campus many times with my older sister in her dorm, and I always feel safe and at home. I've also been taking classes online and I really enjoy the communication between students and professors. The staff at SDSU really care about the education they're giving their students.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for South Dakota State University is 90%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Attend South Dakota State University first! The University of South Dakota is nice but you will gain more friends and experience attending SDSU before USD. Make a study plan so your grades stay high and do not be afraid to say no to a school commitment. Also, take pictures of yourself, friends, and family to school. You will get homesick. Do not be afraid to call home and talk to the parents and call your grandparents on a regular basis. Keep in touch with your brother and sister.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
South Dakota State University is dedicated to helping students become successful now and in their future career, and offers small class sizes and a faculty that want the students to do well.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The most frustrating thing about my school is that some classes are taught by professors that don't speak very good english. Now we all know that this is part of the college experience, but it's hard enough to understand a class like Chemistry when you have a hard time understanding the teacher. On the bright side, these teachers know that their students have a difficult time understanding them, and therefore are always willing to help out students in and out of class.
SDSU is about the right size for and undergraduate program. While there were some classes with 400 students, others only had 15-20. It was nice in the smaller classes to get to know your professors and not be another number.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
South Dakota State University is one of the most affordable schools in the U.S. For it's unique price students can recieve a quality education from professors and learning communities who care. The university is also unique for its learning communities, meaning they put you in a community with other students who are studying similar things to you so that you are in almost all of the same classes and it is easier to make study groups.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
I mostly brag about my job and the fact that I live a block away from campus and my rent is extremely cheap. This community is great for jobs for college students as well as off campus affordable housing.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
90% of students attending South Dakota State University receive some sort of financial aid.
25% were awarded federal grants.65%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
