University of South Dakota

Non-profit public

Public

Private

Regional

Set on a 274-acre campus in the southwestern South Dakota community of Vermillion, the University of South Dakota enrolls more than 10,000 students. The state's oldest public university offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and nearly 80 graduate programs, including a variety of online degrees and certificates. USD's business school offers an online bachelor's degree as well as an online MBA with five areas of specialization, including business analytics and health services administration. Other bachelor's degrees available online include criminal justice, addiction studies, health sciences, dental hygiene, and nursing. In addition to its MBA, USD offers 11 master's programs online, such as educational administration, social work, and public health. The school also offers a Ph.D. in health sciences online. Online tuition rates at USD are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. Undergraduates may apply using the Common Application. USD offers writing assistance to online students through an online writing center.

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Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

91% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

81% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

60% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores:	Considered (not required)	High school transcript:	Required
High school rank:	Considered (not required)	Letter of recommendation:	Considered (not required)
High school GPA:	Considered (not required)	Open admission:	No
Completion of college prep program:	Required	Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL):

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment: Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes

Credit for qualified life experience*:

ⓘ *This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

Learning Environment

Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

63%

Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

15:1

Student to faculty ratio

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

#	Programs	BA	MA	Doc
1	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies	✔	✕	✕
2	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies	✔	✕	✕
3	Biological And Biomedical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
4	Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services	✔	✔	✕
5	Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs	✔	✔	✕
6	Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services	✔	✔	✕
7	Education	✔	✔	✔
8	Engineering	✕	✔	✔
9	English Language And Literature/Letters	✔	✔	✔
10	Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics	✔	✕	✕
11	Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
12	Health Professions And Related Programs	✔	✔	✔
13	History	✔	✔	✕
14	History	✔	✔	✕
15	Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services	✔	✕	✕
16	Legal Professions And Studies	✕	✕	✔
17	Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities	✔	✔	✕
18	Mathematics And Statistics	✔	✔	✔
19	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	✔	✔	✕
20	Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology	✔	✔	✕
21	Philosophy And Religious Studies	✔	✕	✕
22	Physical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
23	Psychology	✔	✔	✔
24	Public Administration And Social Service Professions	✕	✔	✕
25	Security And Protective Services	✔	✕	✕
26	Social Sciences	✔	✔	✔
27	Visual And Performing Arts	✔	✔	✕