University of South Dakota

The acceptance rate at University of South Dakota is 99%. Out of 4,480 applications received in 2023, 4,456 students were offered admission.

If you are thinking about applying to University of South Dakota, the application fee is $20.

University of South Dakota Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of University of South Dakota's admissions stats.

University of South Dakota 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.5
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	16.31%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	2.87%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	75.94%
Waitlist	No

University of South Dakota Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of South Dakota.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–

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Want to Apply Early to University of South Dakota?

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University of South Dakota does not offer early decision or early action.

➡️ Discover a list of some competetive colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of South Dakota Admissions

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Transferring to University of South Dakota

For more information on transferring to University of South Dakota, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into University of South Dakota?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at University of South Dakota

What does University of South Dakota consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Class Rank	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Application Essay	Considered
Recommendation(s)	Considered

Make sure to check with University of South Dakota for more information on admission factors.

University of South Dakota 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of South Dakota, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with University of South Dakota's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	–	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of South Dakota?

Students admitted to University of South Dakota have an average unweighted GPA of 3.5.

Out of all students that were admitted, 80.92% submitted a class rank. At University of South Dakota 16.31% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 40.73% were in the top 25% and 74.56% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of South Dakota, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	11.62%
3.75 and 3.99	28.77%
3.50 and 3.74	18%
3.25 and 3.49	15%
3.00 and 3.24	9.62%
2.50 and 2.9	14.23%
2.00 and 2.49	2.23%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of South Dakota directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of South Dakota is not test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 2.87% of University of South Dakota's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 75.94% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for University of South Dakota?

To be competitive with other University of South Dakota applicants, you should strive to score between 1050 and 1260 (or higher!) on the SAT. At University of South Dakota 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1260 and 25% of scored lower than 1050, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of University of South Dakota students scored 660 or higher and 75% of students scored 500 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of University of South Dakota students scored 640 or higher, and 75% scored a 500 or higher.

To be most competitive at University of South Dakota, you should strive to earn between 19 and 25 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 25 means you fall in the 75th percentile for University of South Dakota's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 25, and three out of four students scored lower than 25 on the ACT.

A 19 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for University of South Dakota students. Only one out of every four students scored below 19.

More Information on Transferring to University of South Dakota

Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in University of South Dakota during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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University of South Dakota Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of South Dakota?

❌ Students who are admitted to University of South Dakota must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.

Does University of South Dakota accept transfer credits?

✅ University of South Dakota accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. University of South Dakota accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does University of South Dakota accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of South Dakota accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of South Dakota?

✅ University of South Dakota is not test optional.

What is University of South Dakota's acceptance rate?

✅ University of South Dakota has an acceptance rate of 99%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of South Dakota?

❌ University of South Dakota does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About University of South Dakota?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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