Campus & Student Life at University of South Dakota

Home to about 7,103 undergraduates in 2020, USD is a public university located in Vermillion, South Dakota. This is a great opportunity for those who would thrive in a charming, small-town atmosphere. Should you tire of the campus however, USD offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by USD can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our USD Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

USD Has a Disability Services Site

For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit USD Disability Services.

USD for the Military

While not a "service academy", USD does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit USD Veteran Services . For more information, check out our USD for Veterans Guide.

USD offers On-Campus Day Care

For students with young families, USD does offer some day care. Programs like this are often in very high demand, so be sure to inquire as soon as you can.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at University of South Dakota

USD offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at University of South Dakota

There were 7,103 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 4,741 (66.7%). Part-time attendance was 2,362 (33.3%).

University of South Dakota is Ranked #1,522 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, USD is about average in terms of overall diversity. We rank USD #1522 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at USD by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the USD Diversity Guide.

University of South Dakota Competes in the NCAA

USD has a total of 473 student athletes, 222 men and 251 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to University of South Dakota Athletics