South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Remote town

98%Acceptance rate
$19,841Average net price / year
62%Graduation rate
$55,070Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$23,250Median debt at graduation
9,198Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$9,299
Out-of-state tuition
$12,809
Total cost of attendance
$24,636
Room & board
$10,176
Books & supplies
$750
Average net price
$19,841

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$14,266
$30–48k
$15,248
$48–75k
$18,073
$75–110k
$20,706
$110k+
$21,886

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
98.3%
Average SAT
1120
SAT reading (25–75%)
530–610
SAT math (25–75%)
530–630
ACT composite (25–75%)
19–25

Outcomes

Graduation rate
62%
First-year retention
84%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$49,564
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$55,070
Median debt (graduates)
$23,250
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
17%
Students with federal loans
43%

Programs: what graduates earn

60 of 206 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Associate's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities66$20,704$12,000
Agriculture, General31$63,218—

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician—$77,949$21,185
Computer and Information Sciences, General12$73,770$21,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing290$71,758$23,500
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions27$69,255$26,500
Civil Engineering47$69,129$23,250
Mechanical Engineering72$67,791$27,000
Plant Sciences36$58,787$22,125
Agricultural Business and Management34$51,222$22,000
Agriculture, General60$49,781$19,500
Agricultural Mechanization17$47,492$22,000
Mathematics16$46,520$18,250
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies—$45,770$24,024
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas42$45,625$24,250
Business/Managerial Economics87$45,123$20,500
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies15$44,891$21,852
Animal Sciences101$44,844$21,349
Economics4$44,663$25,000
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations5$43,904$24,312
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities33$43,563$20,162
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods67$43,530$24,313
Architecture—$41,781$27,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness53$41,019$24,068
Sociology21$40,236$23,250
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication22$39,795$24,499
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management37$39,483$20,250
Communication and Media Studies22$39,173$25,500
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management23$38,076$25,000
English Language and Literature, General11$37,252$23,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services56$37,123$22,562
Design and Applied Arts31$35,944$27,000
Psychology, General81$35,425$25,000
Political Science and Government22$34,337$24,250
History18$33,135$26,062
Biology, General83$32,940$25,875
Hospitality Administration/Management7$32,512$24,769
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services5$36,762—
Journalism13$34,630—
Business Administration, Management and Operations13$54,439—
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services—$54,646—
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration60$122,169$25,000
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology5$57,608—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions4$53,736—
Agricultural Engineering10$79,322—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering12$103,018—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research23$50,420—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics18$36,132—

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

First professional degree

Students

Undergraduates
9,198
Graduate students
1,642
Part-time
12%
Women / men
54% / 46%
White
84%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
International
4%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
17:1
Avg faculty salary
$92,079 / year
Full-time faculty
81%
Accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Website
www.sdstate.edu
Also known as
NA

Most popular fields

  • Agriculture – 14% of degrees
  • Natural Resources & Conservation – 3% of degrees
  • Education – 6% of degrees
  • Engineering – 6% of degrees
  • Family & Consumer Sciences – 3% of degrees
  • Liberal Arts & General Studies – 5% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at South Dakota State University?

98.3% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1120 on the SAT.

How much does South Dakota State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $19,841 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $9,299 and the full cost of attendance is $24,636.

How much do South Dakota State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $55,070 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

62% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.