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University of South Dakota
Admissions

Interested in attending University of South Dakota?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into University of South Dakota, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

99
%
Acceptance rate
3.47
Average High School GPA
Test Optional
Testing

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into University of South Dakota?

99%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, South Dakota accepted 99% of applicants. We classify this as less selective.

In the most recent year, 5,381 people applied and 5,321 were accepted.

Applied/Accepted
Women
3390 / 3408 (99%)
Men
1931 / 1973 (98%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at University of South Dakota:

100%
92.0
84.0
76.0
68.0
60.0
2022
2023
2024

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

23%
Enrollment of those accepted
Medium
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 23% ended up enrolling at University of South Dakota, making their yield rate Medium. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into University of South Dakota by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things South Dakota considers:

Very Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Class Rank
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record
  • Standardized Test Scores

Considered

  • Application Essay
  • Recommendation(s)

Not Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • Character/Personal Qualities
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Interview
  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment
  • State Residency
  • Talent/Ability
  • Volunteer Work
  • Work Experience

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into University of South Dakota?

3.47
Average High School GPA
Test Optional
Testing

Grades

Students who recently attended University of South Dakota as freshmen had an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.47. 17% of freshmen who attended South Dakota were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 41% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.

These are the high school grade point averages (unweighted) of students who enroll:

High School GPAs
4.00
10%
3.75-3.99
30%
3.50-3.74
21%
3.25-3.49
13%
3.00-3.24
11%
2.50-2.99
11%
2.00-2.49
3%

South Dakota is Test Optional. This means scores are considered if they are submitted, but applicants do not need to submit scores.

Applicants submitting SAT Scores

2%

Applicants submitting ACT Scores

73%
SAT Math Scores
25th Percentile
540
75th Percentile
680
SAT Verb Scores
25th Percentile
570
75th Percentile
650
SAT Composite Scores
25th Percentile
1150
75th Percentile
1290

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to University of South Dakota. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

August 1
Application notification

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