South Dakota State University

Overview of South Dakota State University (SDSU)

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Undergraduates may spend loads of time on their coursework, but they also have time to enjoy themselves and to form a well-rounded educational experience for themselves. After class, many students are found at the Miller Wellness Center, where they can work out on the cardio and weight machines, take in a few laps, or get active in a fitness class.

For students with a desire for competition, there are intramural and club sports available to all. Intramural sports are somewhat competitive and include leagues in sports such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, and flag football. There are also one-day tournaments that require less time but still pack in loads of fun. Tournaments are held in sports such as spikeball, table tennis, disc golf, pickleball, and E-sports.

Top Rankings For South Dakota State University

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SDSU Acceptance Rate and Admissions

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SDSU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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As a state funded institution, South Dakota State University can offer South Dakota residents a lower tuition rate. In fact, thanks to the Western Undergraduate Exchange, students from participating states can get a break on their educational costs, as well. Those gross costs start at just over $10,000 for those eligible for in-state tuition. And non-residents don't pay much more, around $14,000 per year. Since students cannot live on knowledge alone, researchers also looked at the cost of living on campus and in Brookings. After living costs are tallied, those paying state tuition pay between $32,000 and $34,000 for a year of college. Non-residents then pay between $40,000 and $41,000, which is still a great bargain in higher education. However, these costs are just the start of the story.

Once the financial aid office applies all available grants and scholarships, the net cost is reduced significantly. Indeed, students receive a great bit of aid and see their net costs fall to an average of only $18,000 for a full year at SDSU, including all living costs. The lowest income earning families see their net costs fall to under $14,000, while households that earn over $110,000 have net costs of under $20,000. Given the level of academic excellence at SDSU, this is a tremendous educational value.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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South Dakota State University is well-known for strong academic programs that prepare students for a lifetime of success. Students come to Brookings from all over the state and other western states to earn a top-notch diploma. Our researchers have sought to verify this reputation with statistics such as the retention rate, graduation rate, and student-to-faculty ratio. The retention rate is the figure that measures how many first-time, full-time students return to campus for a second term. This number is important because a high retention rate indicates a high level of satisfaction among students and their families. Since SDSU reports a stellar retention rate of 80%, it's safe to say that students are happy with their professors, campus resources, and even fellow students.

SDSU students do a good job of sticking around for graduation, too. The university reports that 60% of students graduate, which is a bit lower than the national average. This is a figure that shows somewhat lower results than students might want to see and, unfortunately, SDSU did not report its transfer out rates, so there are no extra numbers to boost that view.

The school does report their student-to-faculty ratio, however. That number indicates average class size and researchers view smaller classes as an indication of higher-quality instruction. Since SDSU has a ratio of 17 to 1, it’s clear that students are sure to receive ample attention and have loads of opportunities to ask questions and otherwise interact with their instructors.

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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South Dakota State University students and their families are all interested to learn what sort of return they might see on their educational dollar. While there are no guarantees that a degree will provide any specific job or salary, there are some statistics available. Recent graduates self-report their salaries, and outcomes are looking good. The top-earning degree appears to be in computer and information sciences, whose holders are reporting a median income of over $80,000. At the bottom of the top five, the registered nursing students report solid first-year median earnings that top $60,000.

Photos & Videos

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