THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA K-16

414 East Clark St.
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
Tel: (605)677-5011; 877-269-6837
Admissions: (605)677-5434
Fax: (605)677-6753
Web Site: http://www.usd.edu/

Description:

State-supported, university, coed. Awards associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and first professional degrees and post-master's certificates. Founded 1862. Setting: 216-acre small town campus. Endowment: $76.8 million. Research spending 2003-04: $10.2 million. Educational spending 2003-04: $7179 per student. Total enrollment: 8,120. Faculty: 345 (336 full-time, 9 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 15:1. 2,632 applied, 83% were admitted. 11% from top 10% of their high school class, 32% from top quarter, 62% from top half. 2 National Merit Scholars, 83 valedictorians. Full-time: 4,088 students, 57% women, 43% men. Part-time: 1,936 students, 74% women, 26% men. Students come from 41 states and territories, 18 other countries, 27% from out-of-state, 2% Native American, 1% Hispanic, 1% black, 1% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 1% international, 21% 25 or older, 31% live on campus, 11% transferred in. Retention: 69% of full-time freshmen returned the following year. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: business/marketing; education; health professions and related sciences. Core. Calendar: semesters. ESL program, services for LD students, advanced placement, honors program, independent study, distance learning, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, internships. Off campus study at National Student Exchange. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army.

Entrance Requirements:

Options: electronic application, early admission, deferred admission. Required: high school transcript, SAT or ACT. Recommended: minimum 2.6 high school GPA. Required for some: recommendations. Entrance: moderately difficult. Application deadline: 9/4. Notification: continuous.

Costs Per Year:

Application fee: $20. State resident tuition: $2,371 full-time, $74.10 per credit hour part-time. Nonresident tuition: $7,538 full-time, $235.55 per credit hour part-time. Mandatory fees: $2,378 full-time, $74.30 per credit hour part-time. Full-time tuition and fees vary according to course load and reciprocity agreements. Part-time tuition and fees vary according to course load and reciprocity agreements. College room and board: $3,741. College room only: $1,937. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility.

Collegiate Environment:

Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, marching band, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 120 open to all; national fraternities, national sororities; 23% of eligible men and 13% of eligible women are members. Most popular organizations: Program Council, Residence Hall Association, Student Ambassadors, Delta Sigma Pi. Major annual events: Dakota Days, Strollers, Rockfest. Student services: legal services, health clinic, personal-psychological counseling. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, student patrols, late night transport-escort service, controlled dormitory access. 1,975 college housing spaces available; 1,660 were occupied in 2003-04. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required through sophomore year. Options: coed, men-only, women-only housing available. I. D. Weeks Library plus 2 others with 335,757 books, 673,116 microform titles, 2,852 serials, 30,885 audiovisual materials, and an OPAC. Operations spending 2003-04: $4.1 million. 834 computers available on campus for general student use. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment:

Vermillion is situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri and Vermillion Rivers and was named for the red clay on the riverbanks. There is a public library, museums, churches of a number of denominations, a hospital, and major civic and service organizations. Shopping facilities are excellent. Part-time employment opportunities are good. There are a number of recreational activities, and hunting and fishing opportunities are excellent.