Public · National University
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · 5,439 undergraduates
What it may cost by family income
Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $27,932 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.
| Household income | Est. net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $14,921 |
| $30k–$48k | $15,942 |
| $48k–$75k | $18,540 |
| $75k–$110k | $21,202 |
| Over $110k | $22,193 |
Sticker cost of attendance: $27,932 (out-of-state) · $24,422 in-state.
What the whole degree costs
Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.
| Household income | 4 yrs, today's prices | 4 yrs with increases |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $59,684 | $62,891 |
| $30k–$48k | $63,768 | $67,195 |
| $48k–$75k | $74,160 | $78,145 |
| $75k–$110k | $84,808 | $89,365 |
| Over $110k | $88,772 | $93,542 |
60% of students here graduate within six years. If the degree takes a fifth year, budget roughly one more year at the prices above — ask the school what share of students finish in four.
First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask University of South Dakota how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.
Applying to a specific major at University of South Dakota
99% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.
To find the real figure for your major, check University of South Dakota's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.
At University of South Dakota: 162 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $57,693 median earnings (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.)
Clinical placement requirements hard-cap how many students a nursing program can take, which routinely makes direct-entry nursing among the most selective programs on a campus.
Check: Whether the program is direct-entry or requires applying again in sophomore year, and how many seats it takes per cohort.
At University of South Dakota: 192 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $38,289 median earnings (Business Administration, Management and Operations.)
Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.
Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.
Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at University of South Dakota in computer science, engineering, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.
What graduates earn, by major
Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of University of South Dakota, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.
| Major | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. · Nursing | $57,693 | — |
| Psychology, General. · Social Sciences | $30,616 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. · Business | $38,289 | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. · Other Health Professions | $34,660 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $38,739 | — |
| Biology, General. · Biological Sciences | $25,967 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. · Business | $40,641 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $39,249 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. · Business | $44,971 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. · Other Health Professions | $31,854 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $33,423 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $27,439 | — |
Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.
Is University of South Dakota a reach, target, or safety for you?
Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.
Model my odds & cost — freeFigures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with University of South Dakota’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.