by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding South Dakota State retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 84% students making it past their freshmen year, South Dakota State has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in South Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
Of the 1836 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 43% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 57% of the students had graduated and after eight years 59% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical South Dakota State graduation rate 57%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1361 | 43% |
| Six Years | 1836 | 57% |
| Eight Years | 37 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1321 | 41% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1321 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1321 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
833 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 477 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 833 | 63.1% |
| Dropped Out | 477 | 36.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 23% |
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 29% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 49% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 61% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at South Dakota State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at South Dakota State University represent 70.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Dakota State graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 61% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 59% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 47.82% |
894 first-time / full-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
580 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 307 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.78% |
| Transferred | 580 | 64.88% |
| Dropped Out | 307 | 34.34% |
First-time / part-time students at South Dakota State University represent 2.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Dakota State graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 18% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
65 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 41 | 63.08% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 35.38% |
Returning / full-time students at South Dakota State University represent 18.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Dakota State graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
198 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
111 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.51% |
| Transferred | 111 | 56.06% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 43.43% |
Returning / part-time students at South Dakota State University represent 8.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Dakota State graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 38% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | South Dakota State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
164 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
South Dakota State lost contact with the remaining 61 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 101 | 61.59% |
| Dropped Out | 61 | 37.20% |
