South Dakota State University, Brookings
South Dakota, United States of America | Estd in 1964 | Government University
CWUR Rank : 1194
About South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is a publicly owned institution that was established in 1964. The university is situated in South Dakota, United States and the campus size is nearly 400.69 acres.
The acceptance rate of South Dakota State University is 86%. It is very impressive for international students which makes it one of the preferred universities. The competition is less with quality education. Hence, one should carefully fill up an application form to get admitted into the institution.
South Dakota State University is at 1201+ rank by QS under the measure “QS Sustainability Ranking” in 2024. It is one of the prestigious universities in Brookings. It is also at the rank of 159th place as per US News in “Top Public Schools” according to the rankings conducted by US News in 2024.
To apply, one can visit the official website of South Dakota State University and fill out the application form. On successful submission of the application form and necessary documents, candidates are considered for admission purposes. Moreover, international students must show evidence proving their English proficiency via one of the acceptable examinations. These are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, ACT, SAT, Cambridge, Duolingo, and many more.
The South Dakota State University's application fee is USD 20 (Rs 1,657 approx) and USD 35 (Rs 2899 approx), which is non-refundable. The application fee can be paid online through the online application system at the time of application submission or by sending a cheque or money order.
As per the Fall 2023 enrollment records of South Dakota State University, 11,505 students at the university are from 48 different states and 74 countries of the world. Out of these, 10,109 are undergraduate, 1,115 are graduate students, and 281 are professional students.
Furthermore, it showed that the incoming first-time freshmen class recorded an average high school GPA of 3.56, and 39% of the class registered scores of 24 or higher on the ACT.
Nine colleges of South Dakota State University provide specialisations in different areas of study to its students.
As of August 2023, the university has produced more than 102,136 total graduates. Out of these, 43,486 live in South Dakota and 45,203 live in the USA. Around 1,231 alumni are living out of the USA.
Latest Deadline at South Dakota State University
All the documents along with the complete application form (with successful payment of the application fee) must be submitted to the university prior to the deadlines provided by them. The admissions are granted on a rolling basis to international students. The deadlines laid out by South Dakota State University are as follows:
Application Deadlines at South Dakota State University:
Fall (August) | June 15 |
Spring (January) | November 1 |
South Dakota State University Highlights
- Domestic: 9719
- International: 198
South Dakota State University Courses
South Dakota State University offers more than 80 majors, 97 minors and many certificates which are provided to its students along with excellent faculty. Hence, Students can choose from 88 majors, 38 specialisations, 104 minors, 39 master’s degree programs, 16 Ph.D. programs and two professional doctorates.
Some of the popular programmes which students tend to enrol in the most include Health Professions, Veterinary Science, Engineering, Business, Management, Marketing, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, and many more.
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Accreditations
South Dakota State University Cost Of Living
The tuition fee for the programmes offered at South Dakota State University ranges due to differences in curriculum structures as some of the courses are accelerated degrees. It also depends on whether the classes are taken by the students on campus or online.
The estimated average tuition fees for undergraduate degrees based on 15 credit hours per semester (minimum credit hours for general courses which are required for 4-year graduation) is around USD 5,642 per semester.
Moreover, the estimated cost of attendance for graduate degree programmes is nearly USD 5,886 which is based on 9 credit hours per semester.
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Is it expensive to study at South Dakota State University?
No, South Dakota State University is not an expensive university as the tuition fee for the courses whether undergraduate or graduate degrees varies from Rs 8,17,000 to Rs 9,40,000. When the tuition is compared to the national average international tuition, it is quite low. However, it can be stated that the university is expensive or not based on various other factors as well.
International students can also look at the cost of living in the USA for further information about the expenses of necessary items including rent, food, health, and others.
Cost of living
The total cost of living cannot be determined as every individual spends different amounts of money on different amenities and services according to their lifestyles and preferences.
However, an estimated cost can be determined which can include various fixed expenses such as books, transportation, food, rent, etc.
The table shows the approximate living costs that may incur as an international student at South Dakota State University:
Estimate of expenses at South Dakota State University:
Expense List | Undergraduate (USD) | Graduate (USD) |
General Activity Fee | 763 | 458 |
International Student Fee | 150 | 150 |
Residence Hall (rent) | 2,311 | 3,000 (including utilities) |
Yearly Health Insurance | 708 | 708 |
Personal Expenses | 500 to 2,000 | 500 to 2,000 |
Premier Meal Plan | 2,127 | 2,100 |
Books | 575 | 575q |
Transportation and other incidental costs | 740 | 740 |
South Dakota State University Admission and Application
South Dakota State University's acceptance rate is quite high at 86% which makes it a very preferred University by international students. More than 85 applicants out of every 100 applications are processed further for admission by the university administration. Hence, careful and correct information in an application can secure admissions easily.
The process of applying comes to an end with the payment of an application fee of either USD 20 (Rs 1,657 approx) for undergraduate programmes or USD 35 (2899 approx) for graduate programmes.
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How to apply at South Dakota State University
One can apply to South Dakota State University via the official website. There is an application form available there and interested candidates are requested to fill it up. On successful submission of that application form along with the documents, one can expect to wait for the offer letter if granted admission.
The candidates can find the application form when they click on the “Apply” tab on the top of the home webpage of the university.
After completing the form, one must submit English proficiency scores, academic records, passport, copy of I-20, and financial documents. There may be more documents than this according to the programme of study chosen.
One must fill out a financial certification form and submit it with current bank documents to support the amount listed on the certificate.
The candidates must pay the application fee at the last step and contact the university’s defined mode of connection for the follow-up of the application process.
Documents Required For Admission to South Dakota State University
There are various documents which must be submitted to the admission office of South Dakota State University for the admission process. These documents are as follows:
English proficiency scores
Financial support documents
Immunisation records
Baccalaureate degree
High school academic records
Official transcripts
Financial certificate
I-20 document
Passport
Letters of recommendation
Resume
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
South Dakota State University Application Fees: A non-refundable application fee of USD 20 which is nearly Rs 1,657 or USD 35 which is around Rs 2899 is charged by South Dakota State University towards undergraduate or graduate degrees respectively. It is around USD 93 for EngineeringCAS graduate school. The payment can be made via money order, cheque or online.
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South Dakota State University Scholarship
South Dakota State University provides a lot of opportunities for its student body to fund their tuition. Some of the scholarships which are available for undergraduate and graduate international students are as follows:
The Jackrabbit Guarantee Scholarship: It is a grant which is open to all first-time freshman undergraduate applicants who applied and enrolled at the main campus of the university in Brookings. The students are not required to fill out any separate form as this scholarship is included in the letter of admission. The value of this award ranges from USD 1,000 to USD 4,000. The eligibility is determined by academic scores.
Graduate School Access Scholarships: The award is around USD 2,500 towards the cost of graduate tuition to assist graduate students who do not have funding support for tuition. To be considered for the scholarship, graduate students must submit a completed electronic application.
Joseph F. Nelson Graduate Scholarship: This award is open to graduate students at South Dakota State University who are in good standing (a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above) and meet the other eligibility standards. The amount is USD 2,500. Graduate student applicants must have completed 15 semester credit hours of academic work toward a Master’s or Ph.D. degree.
Some of the scholarship opportunities are present for international students which are not provided by South Dakota State University. The following are the ones which help candidates explore the potential of receiving aid from sources not connected with SDSU:
Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Program
Aga Khan Foundation
American Association of University Women
WU Scholars
Nursing Scholarships for International Students
South Dakota State University Eligibility
South Dakota State University accepts students from all over the world who are eligible to enter the areas of study offered by the institution. Hence, one must comply with these requirements to be a part of the university.
Generally, every candidate should have a minimum high school GPA of 2.6 and original or officially certified copies of academic transcripts for undergraduate study programmes. However, the minimum academic qualifications are also determined according to the country by the university.
For undergraduate degrees, Indian applicants must have the following:
Candidates must attain a minimum average of 60 on a 100-point grading scale.
Candidates must have an average equivalent which is acceptable according to the US system. It is a 'B' average or a 2.60 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 GPA grading scale.
Candidates are required to show an official copy of the Central Board of Secondary and Senior Examination (CBSE), or other examining board test results.
They must have English proficiency scores equal to or higher than the minimum acceptable results.
For graduate degrees, candidates must have the following:
For unconditional admission into the selected course, they must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 in their undergraduate studies.
A professional academic transcript evaluation for degrees earned outside the United States is an important requirement for all international applicants prior to enrollment at SDSU
If the candidates are completing their bachelor's degree at the time of application, they may submit an incomplete evaluation.
A minimum acceptable English proficiency test scores in TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
Some programmes may ask for some other requirement such as a necessary discipline to be studied at high school or more.
English proficiency requirements
All international applicants must show their English proficiency to the university to be admitted into their selected area of study. This can be determined with the help of various acceptable English proficiency examinations such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ACT, SAT, Duolingo, and many more.
The minimum results laid out by South Dakota State University are different for undergraduate and graduate students.
Acceptable exams for undergraduate degrees at South Dakota State University:
Examinations | Acceptable scores | |
TOEFL iBT | Overall: 61 | |
IELTS Academic | Overall score 5.5 | |
iTEP | Overall score 3.6 | |
Duolingo | Overall score:90 | |
ACT | Composite score of 18 | |
PTE Academic | Overall score 44 | |
SAT | Old | Redesigned |
480 Critical Reading | 490 Reading and Writing | |
IGCSE O-level English | “B” or higher | |
Cambridge | CAE or CPE (pass grade) | |
Acceptable exams for graduate degrees at South Dakota State University:
Examinations | Acceptable scores | |
TOEFL iBT | Overall: 71 | |
IELTS Academic | Overall score 6.0 | |
Duolingo | Overall score: 100 | |
Some programmes may require higher test scores for admission as these are the basic entry requirements.
South Dakota State University Campus Facilities
Classrooms
Wifi
Library
Laboratories
Alumni Associations
Swimming Pool
Gym
Sports
Parking Facility
Auditorium
Cafeteria
Convenience Store
I.T Infrastructure
South Dakota State University International Office Details
The University student body is made up of 11,505 students as per the enrollment records of Fall, 2023. There are around 702 students out of these who come from 74 different countries of the globe. Around 4,371 students are from 48 different states other than South Dakota of the United States.
For more information regarding international admissions at South Dakota State University, the candidates can contact the admission office of the institution at:
Phone: 605-688-4122
Is it hard to get into South Dakota State University?
No, it is not that hard to get accepted for admission into South Dakota State University. The university has an 86% acceptance rate which shows the nature of admission management as welcoming towards international students. Hence, one can expect an easy entry into their selected course if there is no mistake associated with the application form and the documents.
South Dakota State University Gallery
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FAQ's
Yes, Duolingo is one of the acceptable English proficiency examinations to prove the English command of international students. The scores must be at least 90 for undergraduate and 100 for graduate programme applications.
Yes, South Dakota State University is one of the top-tier universities situated in the United States. It secured a position at 159 under the category of “Top Public Schools” as per the rankings conducted by US News in 2024. The university is also remarked as it has produced so many famous alumni over the years.
South Dakota State University requires at least a 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 in order to be eligible for unconditional admission. It must be a minimum of 2.60 on a 4.0 scale or B-average for undergraduate studies.
The acceptance rate of South Dakota State University is approximately 86%. It is in favour of international students and the admission team is considerate to international students.
Yes, South Dakota State University is quite good and preferred by many international students. The student body of the university is represented by around 74 different nationalities of the world. The institution provides a great opportunity for all students to have research-led quality education at an affordable tuition rate.