Higher Education in South Dakota
South Dakota is the place for adventure. Just outside the classroom walls, international students will find skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, and hiking.
South Dakota offers six unique opportunities to study. Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota are all under the direction of the South Dakota Board of Regents.
Each university offers its own environment, its own degrees, its own tradition and its own identity.
Black Hills State University
Enrollment: 3,873
The role of Black Hills State University is that of a liberal arts university
providing programs in the liberal arts and sciences/ education with special
emphasis on the preparation of elementary, middle level, and secondary
teachers; human services; wellness; business, travel industries management
and tourism. Complementing these programs is a series of pre-professional,
on and two-year, terminal, and junior college programs. Degrees are authorized
at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's level.
Dakota State University
Enrollment: 2,295
Dakota State University is South Dakota's leader in applying computer
and information systems technology to higher education. DSU provides innovative
and challenging degree programs, preparing graduates to move into rewarding
careers as tomorrow's leaders in computer science, education, business,
health-care and many other fields.
Northern State University
Enrollment: 3,137
Northern State University's small class sizes and excellent opportunities
for its students in and out of the classroom make this affordable university
the best investment in your future. NSU offers traditional fields of study
along with cutting-edge technology and it has one of the best student-to-
computer ratios in the nation. The university comprises the College of
Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education and
the School of Fine Arts. Students may major in more than 40 programs within
these areas of study. NSU also offers two-year, pre-professional, and
master's degrees.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Enrollment: 2,454
The role of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is that of a university
specializing in undergraduate and graduate education emphasizing science
and engineering. Degrees are authorized at the baccalaureate, master's
and doctoral levels.
South Dakota State University
Enrollment: 10,561
South Dakota State University is a four-year comprehensive university
ranked by U.S.News & World Report as a "Top Ten Regional Public
University" in the Midwest. Founded in 1881, SDSU is South Dakota's
largest university, offering more than 200 majors, minors and options.
The central mission of South Dakota State University is to serve through
teaching, research, and extension activities as the State's land-grant
institution. Our first mission, then, is undergraduate and graduate education
from the freshmen to the doctoral levels. This priority is achieved through
selected high quality academic, professional, extra-curricular and recreational
programs. Our second mission is to conduct nationally competitive strategic
research, scholarly and creative activities. Our third mission is the
transfer of knowledge, especially to the citizens of South Dakota, through
the Cooperative Extension Service and other entities.
University of South Dakota
Enrollment: 7,917
The University of South Dakota is the comprehensive university within
the South Dakota System of Higher Education. The university's mission
is to provide graduate and undergraduate programs in the liberal arts
and sciences and in professional education, to promote excellence in teaching
and learning, to support research, scholarly and creative activities,
and to provide service to the State of South Dakota and the region.