University of South Dakota acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of South Dakota, a public university in South Dakota, reports a 99% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of South Dakota weighs, where it ranks among South Dakota schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1220, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of South Dakota?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of South Dakota?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of South Dakota, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of South Dakota?
Your odds at University of South Dakota are not the same as its 99% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of South Dakota in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of South Dakota hard to get into?
University of South Dakota is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 99% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of South Dakota?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of South Dakota, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of South Dakota reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of South Dakota by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of South Dakota for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of South Dakota with a 3.1 GPA and a 1220 SAT?
About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1220 SAT, the middle of University of South Dakota's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1320 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-south-dakota.
How to get into University of South Dakota
Built from University of South Dakota's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of South Dakota, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of South Dakota carries about a 2.91 core GPA and a 1265 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1125 to 1315 SAT (19 to 25 ACT). Submit a score at 1220 or higher; below 1125, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of South Dakota rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of South Dakota's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.usd.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of South Dakota, and how many get in?
University of South Dakota admitted 5,293 of the 5,349 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 99%. 1,359 enrolled. Only about 26% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of South Dakota enrolls about 5,439 undergraduates in total, 64% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of South Dakota?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of South Dakota scored between 1125 and 1315 on the SAT (average 1125). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 19 to 25. A score above 1315 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1125 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of South Dakota is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of South Dakota looks for
What University of South Dakota weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of South Dakota are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of South Dakota's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of South Dakota
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of South Dakota cost after financial aid?
University of South Dakota's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $24,422 per year. Tuition and fees are $9,432 for SD residents and $12,942 for out-of-state students, a $3,510 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,858 a year, and it ranges from $14,921 for families earning under $30,000 to $22,193 for families earning over $110,000. 19% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of South Dakota graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of South Dakota student who received federal aid earns $51,926 a year, up from $46,290 at six years. 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 79% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $23,592; 40% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of South Dakota compares in South Dakota
University of South Dakota ranks #10 most selective of 10 schools in South Dakota in our database.
Among the 10 South Dakota schools we track, University of South Dakota ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Mount Marty University (43%) and Augustana University (68%) sit nearby, which makes South Dakota a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of South Dakota
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of South Dakota often weigh Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Utah Valley University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of South Dakota's acceptance rate?
University of South Dakota admitted 5,293 of 5,349 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 99% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 26% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of South Dakota?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1125 to 1315 on the SAT and 19 to 25 on the ACT. A score above 1315 is in the top quarter of admits. University of South Dakota is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of South Dakota test-optional?
Yes. University of South Dakota reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of South Dakota cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of South Dakota, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $19,858 a year against a sticker price of about $24,422. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $14,921 on average.
What do University of South Dakota graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of South Dakota are $51,926 a year among students who received federal aid, and 60% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of South Dakota value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of South Dakota weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of South Dakota favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of South Dakota generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of South Dakota?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of South Dakota specifically.
What are the admission requirements for University of South Dakota?
University of South Dakota reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.