Degree Programs Offered at the University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable MPH Online Programs.
The University of South Dakota offers a range of special and traditional degree programs for incoming students. Undergrads can enroll in a first-year program that allows them to complete study tour programs they take classes. Freshmen also have access to study abroad opportunities that they can do in their second semesters or the summer. The university encourages students to participate in its serving learning programs too, including the special opportunities available during the National Days of Service.
Freshmen can choose from 13 different areas of study and majors in dozens of fields, including communications, art, business, and law. Graphic design, ceramics, and painting are some of the majors designed for art students. In the art history program, students take classes such as History of World Art I and II, Digital Design, Printmaking, and Renaissance Art History. The university’s undergraduate business program is another popular choice. Other undergraduate majors include anthropology, criminal justice, nonprofit studies, exercise science, and language arts education.
One of the top programs available for graduate students is the university’s Master of Business Administration (MBA). It features specializations in finance, business analytics, health services administration, marketing and operations, and supply chain management. The university also offers a combined Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and MBA program. Graduate students can also choose majors in fields such as graphic design, psychology, American Indian education, creative writing, and addiction studies.
USD Online gives students the chance to work on their degrees through the online system. This system offers an RN to BSN program for nurses and a nonprofit management program for those who want to work in nonprofit organizations. The kinesiology and sport management program includes 30 credits of online courses and awards students a Master of Arts degree. The university’s online Master of Arts in Addiction Studies program features 33 credits for students in the advanced track and 45 credits for those on the standard track. A bachelor’s program in the same subject is also available online. Other programs available from USD Online include majors in mental health counseling, educational leadership, education and training, public administration and music education.
About the University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota is the flagship campus in the University of South Dakota System. Established in 1862, it operated for nearly three decades before South Dakota became a state. The main campus is in Vermillion and within driving distance of other cities such as Sioux City and Sioux Falls. Originally called the University of Vermillion, it became the University of South Dakota in later years. Most refer to the main campus as USD. That campus sits on more than 200 acres and features both the Al Neuharth Media Center and the Theodore R. and Karen K. Muenster University Center. Multiple housing complex offer rooms for both undergrads and graduate students. USD is home to the only medical and law schools in the state and ranks as a top American university by U.S. News and World Report.
University of South Dakota Accreditation Details
As USD has regional accreditation, it can both accept credits from transfer students and award all students financial aid packages. That accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The American Bar Association (ABA), American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) are some of the other professional organizations that awarded USD for its degree programs.
University of South Dakota Application Requirements
Guaranteed acceptance goes to students who have a minimum ACT/SAT score of 21/1070 or a grade point average of 2.6 or higher. The university also accepts those with a ranking in the top 50 percent of their high school classes. Students need to take one year of fine arts classes, three years of life science, social science and math classes and four years of English classes too. USD accepts both the Common Application and the university’s online application, both of which charge a $20 fee. Students are also responsible for making sure that USD receives their official test scores and transcripts too. The final deadline for freshmen applications is February first.
The requirements for graduate school applications are similar. Students need to submit the USD application and pay a $35 fee. The university requires an official transcript that shows the student had a GPA of at least 2.7 and a background that includes courses relating to the one that he or she wants to study. Students also need to take the GMAT or a similar exam and submit their scores. Both the MBA and other graduate programs ask for three letters of recommendation too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
USD undergrads pay $9,331.50 each year for tuition and fees as they take a full 30 credit hours of classes over two semesters. The same rate applies to the children of alumni and those who live in neighboring states, including Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana. Students living in Minnesota qualify for a different rate of $9,693 per year. Students from any other state will pay the non-resident rate of $12,807 per year. The university estimates that they’ll pay an extra $1,200 each year for textbooks and other supplies as well as more than $8,000 for room and board. Undergrads qualify for different types of financial aid when they submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) though, including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study.
Graduate students at USD pay $391.30 per credit hour for tuition and fees if they are South Dakota residents. Most nonresidents pay $702.50 per credit hour unless they live in Minnesota. Those students pay a rate of $511.40 per credit hour. Discounts are available for members of the National Guard and those who are 65 or older. These students pay $222.90 to $239.75 per credit hour. Students who receive graduate assistantships get a waiver that reduces their tuition to $233 per credit hour if they are South Dakota residents and $266.70 per credit hour if they are nonresidents. To receive one of those positions, students need to complete an application and fulfill all requirements. They can also get grants and loans through the FAFSA. The University of South Dakota encourages students to view all the financial aid opportunities available before they apply to any of its degree programs.