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South Dakota Colleges Admission Statistics

South Dakota Best Schools Compare All South Dakota Schools Tightest to Admit Highest SAT Scores
Acceptance Rate 83.36%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 33.93%
Applicants 22,230
Admitted 18,530
Enrolled 6,288

Applying To South Dakota Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 83.36% at South Dakota colleges and universities where total 22,230 students have applied and 18,530 have been accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $34.00 and the graduate application fees is $39.60. Next table presents the general admission information for applying to South Dakota colleges.
General Admission Information of South Dakota Colleges
Open Admission Policy15 out of 31 schools
Average Undergraduate Application Fees$ 34.00
Average Graduate Application Fees$ 39.60
Average Acceptance Rate83.36%
Average Yield (Enrollment Rate)33.93%
Average Test Scores1,108 SAT / 66 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For academic year 2020-2021, total 22,230 students (10,018 men and 12,212 women) applied to and 18,530 (8,114 men and 10,416 women) students were accepted to admit South Dakota Colleges. Among them, 2,920 men and 3,368 women were enrolled into South Dakota schools. The average acceptance rate is 83.36% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 33.93%. The table below shows the South Dakota colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for South Dakota Colleges (2020-2021)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants22,23010,01812,212
Admitted18,5308,11410,416
Enrolled6,2882,9203,368
Acceptance Rate 83.36% 80.99% 85.29%
Enrollment Ratio 33.93% 35.99% 32.33%
[Chart]South Dakota Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

For South Dakota college, 506 students (13.27% of enrolled) have submitted their SAT scores and 5,679 students (86.00%) have submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,219 and 25th percentile score is 998. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 76 and 25th percentile score is 57. Next table shows the detail SAT and ACT scores distribution of enrolled students at South Dakota colleges and universities.
SAT and ACT Score Distribution at South Dakota Colleges
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing492.55608.45
SAT Math505.27610.45
ACT Composite19.5525.18
ACT Math19.0025.91
ACT English18.0924.73
[Chart] SAT/ACT Distribution - South Dakota Colleges
[Chart] Average SAT Scores - South Dakota Colleges
[Chart] Average ACT Scores - South Dakota Colleges

Calendar System and Accepted Credits

In South Dakota State, 17 schools use semester calendar systems and 5 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester17 out of 31 schools
Quarter5 out of 31 schools
Trimester0 out of 31 schools
Four-one-four plan3 out of 31 schools
Other academic year2 out of 31 schools
Differs by program2 out of 31 schools
Continuous2 out of 31 schools
Next table describes credits that South Dakota colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits23 out of 31 schools
Credits for Life Experiences16 out of 31 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits22 out of 31 schools
Credit for Military Training20 out of 31 schools

Application Requirements

10 South Dakota schools require High School GPA and 10 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 10 South Dakota colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to South Dakota colleges.
Admission Checklist for South Dakota Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA100
High School Rank52
High School Record (or Transcript)100
Completion of College Preparatory Program43
Recommendations00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies00
Admission Test Scores100
TOEFL71
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)00

Know about South Dakota Colleges