University of South Dakota

Overview of University of South Dakota

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Once classes are done for the day, USD students like to unwind with recreational and other activities. The campus Wellness Center is where students meet to engage in fun fitness activities. The WC offers a full range equipment and resources including weights, cardio machines, racquetball courts, an indoor track, and a pool for laps. Students can also participate in E-Sports, a wide range of clubs, or take a climb on the popular climbing wall. Campus life is further enriched with a full schedule of arts, music, and other cultural events designed to provide entertainment and non-academic enrichment.

Since students can't learn on an empty stomach, the USD campus has many culinary delights on the menu. Students can choose between popular national chain restaurants, all-you-can-eat cafeterias, or they can pick up something fast at one of three on-campus convenience stores.

Top Rankings For University of South Dakota

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Admissions

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Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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The University of South Dakota is a public school that is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange. This means that South Dakota residents, and many in the Western States, are able to attend at a lower rate than those from back east or elsewhere. Thus, for in-state students, the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies is around $10,500, which is competitive with many other public universities. Out-of-state students who aren't part of the WUE pay around $13,000.

Once living expenses are tallied, South Dakotans and WUE students pay a total of $23,500 for on-campus living and non-residents pay $27,000. Off-campus living is considered to be slightly more expensive and subject to availability and individual taste, etc. However, these gross costs are not the full story.

Once financial aid is factored into the equation, the resulting net cost of a USD education becomes even more affordable. The average net cost for USD is then $18,000. Lower income students pay a bit less, with a net cost of $14,500 and the top income bracket pays $20,000 for a year of quality education. This is in no small part due to the fact that 76% of students receive financial aid that averages $5,000 per student. Student loans also help, and 68% take loans in amounts that average under $8,000 per student.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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The University of South Dakota is a renowned academic institution for a reason. Quite simply, they earn their reputation and prove it with educational statistics such as their retention rate, graduation numbers, and their surprisingly small class sizes. The retention rate is a figure that universities use to demonstrate how they maintain their students year-after-year. USD reports a stellar retention rate of 78%, meaning that the majority of their full-time first-year students return for a second year. They also report that nearly half of their part-time students return to campus for their second year as well. After that second year, students seem to maintain their enthusiasm for USD and eventually graduate. Thus, almost 60% of students graduate from the Vermillion campus and another 27% transfer to other institutions. This would indicate that 87% of USD students are armed with the academic fortitude to complete a degree.

This fortitude is surely bolstered by the school's solid student-to-faculty ratio, which is 15 to 1. This figure rivals colleges that are less than half the size, and often many times the price. USD students find that their instructors are accessible and that they can pursue independent learning with ease.

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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Future and current students at The University of South Dakota often wonder where their degrees will lead. Outcomes are on their minds when they write checks for tuition and books. Luckily for them, USD students fare well after graduation. When reviewing the top earning majors, the registered nursing students report the highest median income of $55,000. Rounding out the top-ten earning majors are the criminal justice students who report a median, early-career salary of $35,000.

In the middle of the pack are business, healthcare, and education students who report earnings in the low-to-mid $40,000 range. Given that a USD education has prepared them well, it's certain that they will soon see raises and promotions, if not a return to graduate school, which will help boost their long-term earnings.

Photos & Videos

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