University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota's 274-acre campus is set in Vermillion, a small town in the southeastern part of the state near the Missouri River. As the state's flagship university, USD offers a comprehensive range of programs, including the state's only medical and law schools. A unique feature is the presence of the National Music Museum, which houses a collection of over 15,000 musical instruments from around the world.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. University of South Dakota's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 18% of students receive Pell Grants; 42% take federal loans.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $13,687 | $54,748 |
| $30K – $48K | $16,400 | $65,600 |
| $48K – $75K | $18,608 | $74,432 |
| $75K – $110K | $21,259 | $85,036 |
| $110K+ | $21,432 | $85,728 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $9,432 | $37,728 |
Programs at University of South Dakota
22 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools → |
84
|
$71,758/yr | High | 18.6x |
|
Finance
Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools → |
76
|
$49,472/yr | Very High | 17.4x |
| Economics Compare across schools → |
75
|
$52,857/yr | Very High | 18.9x |
|
Accounting
Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools → |
74
|
$57,234/yr | Very High | 14.8x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
70
|
$47,107/yr | High | 15.6x |
| Marketing Compare across schools → |
65
|
$48,060/yr | Very High | 16.0x |
|
Dental Services
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Compare across schools → |
64
|
$61,265/yr | Moderate | 15.4x |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools → |
61
|
$40,402/yr | Moderate | 14.1x |
|
Teacher Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools → |
60
|
$43,790/yr | High | 11.4x |
|
Subject-Area Teaching
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools → |
60
|
$42,543/yr | High | 11.8x |
|
Mental Health Services
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Compare across schools → |
52
|
$41,191/yr | Moderate | 11.1x |
| Special Education and Teaching Compare across schools → |
49
|
$46,439/yr | High | 11.5x |
|
Health Sciences
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Compare across schools → |
49
|
$44,109/yr | High | 14.1x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
46
|
$30,167/yr | High | 16.1x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
45
|
$31,973/yr | Very High | 12.5x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
44
|
$35,792/yr | High | 12.9x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
42
|
$31,696/yr | High | 12.6x |
| History Compare across schools → |
38
|
$28,431/yr | High | 10.7x |
|
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Compare across schools → |
32
|
$35,907/yr | Low | 8.5x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
32
|
$25,327/yr | Moderate | 10.3x |
|
English
English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools → |
30
|
$26,957/yr | Very High | 10.8x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
29
|
$33,852/yr | Moderate | 6.5x |
More Colleges in South Dakota
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in South Dakota, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.