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South Dakota Colleges Admission Statistics

South Dakota Best Schools Compare All South Dakota Schools Tightest to Admit Highest SAT Scores SD Collegs by SAT score
Acceptance Rate 87.15%
Yield (Enrollment Ratio) 27.33%
Applicants 28,355
Admitted 24,711
Enrolled 6,753

Applying To South Dakota Colleges

The average acceptance rate is 87.15% at South Dakota colleges and universities, a total of 28,355 students applied and 24,711 were accepted. The average undergraduate application fees is $32 and the graduate application fees is $41. The following table presents the general admission information for applying to South Dakota colleges.
General Admission Information of South Dakota Colleges
Open Admission Policy13 out of 26 schools
Undergraduate Application Fees$32
Graduate Application Fees$41
Acceptance Rate87.15%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)27.33%
Test Scores1,186 SAT / 22 ACT

Acceptance Rates and Headcounts

For the academic year 2024-2025, total 28,355 students (13,870 men and 14,372 women) applied to and 24,711 (11,762 men and 12,859 women) students were accepted to admit South Dakota Colleges. Among them, 3,135 men and 3,618 women were enrolled into South Dakota schools.
The average acceptance rate is 87.15% and admission yield (enrollment rate) is 27.33%. The table below shows the South Dakota colleges admission statistics including admission and enrolment rates.
Admission Statistics for South Dakota Colleges (2024-2025)
TotalMenWomen
Applicants28,35513,87014,372
Admitted24,71111,76212,859
Enrolled6,7533,1353,618
Acceptance Rate 87.15% 84.80% 89.47%
Yield (Enrollment Rate) 27.33% 26.65% 28.14%
[Chart]South Dakota Colleges Average Acceptance Rate and Yield

Average SAT and ACT Scores

343 students (8.00%) submitted their SAT scores and 4,243 students (65.00%) submitted their ACT scores for seeking degrees. For score submitters, SAT 75th percentile score is 1,285 and 25th percentile score is 1,086. For ACT scores, 75th percentile score is 25 and 25th percentile score is 19.
The following table shows the detailed SAT and ACT scores distribution of first-time enrolled students at South Dakota colleges and universities.
SAT and ACT Score Distribution at South Dakota Colleges
25th Percentile75th Percentile
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing530629
SAT Math556656
ACT Composite1925
ACT Math1826
ACT English1824
[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 1 schools are based on quarter system. Next table lists the number of schools with their calendar systems.
Semester17 out of 26 schools
Quarter1 out of 26 schools
Trimester0 out of 26 schools
Four-one-four plan2 out of 26 schools
Other academic year2 out of 26 schools
Differs by program2 out of 26 schools
Continuous2 out of 26 schools
Next table describes credits that South Dakota colleges and universities are accepting for their students
Dual Credits20 out of 26 schools
Credits for Life Experiences14 out of 26 schools
Advanced placement (AP) Credits18 out of 26 schools
Credit for Military Training17 out of 26 schools

Application Requirements

8 South Dakota schools require High School GPA and 9 schools require High School Record (or Transcript). The test scores such as SAT and ACT are required by 0 South Dakota colleges. Next table summarizes the application requirements for applying to South Dakota colleges.
Admission Checklist for South Dakota Colleges
RequiredRecommended
High School GPA80
High School Rank40
High School Record (or Transcript)90
Completion of College Preparatory Program40
Recommendations10
Formal Demonstration of Competencies00
Admission Test Scores00
TOEFL70
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)00
Know about South Dakota Colleges