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University of South Dakota

Salary Score

Bachelor's

 34

Master's

N/A

Doctoral

 59

By the OnlineU team | Updated 1/19/2023

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FAQs

The University of South Dakota (USD) is a four-year, public university with 5,684 undergraduate students, and it's the only public liberal arts college in South Dakota. USD has more than 50 online accredited programs and hundreds of online courses students can choose from. All of USD's online programs feature classes taught by the same faculty that teach in person, which means you'll get the same high quality education that you would on campus — only from home!

Find an Online Degree:

Salary Score for Online Degrees at University of South Dakota

Bachelor's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Not Reported $42,209 69
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Not Reported $37,167 66
Business Administration, Management and Operations Not Reported $44,237 53
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Not Reported $38,378 45
Criminal Justice and Corrections Not Reported $35,442 34
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Not Reported $64,119 33

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Not Reported $111,811 68
Educational Administration and Supervision Not Reported $58,181 46
Business Administration, Management and Operations Not Reported $70,216 43
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Not Reported $47,920 40
Accounting and Related Services Not Reported $56,751 13
Public Administration Not Reported $49,550 10
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Not Reported $36,947 2

FAQs About University of South Dakota

How Difficult Is It To Get Into USD?


USD can be considered a fairly easy school to get into because it accepts an overwhelming majority of applicants. In fact, College Scorecard lists the school's acceptance rate at 91%. The biggest roadblock to many students' college goals is often the high cost of tuition. USD makes the process easier for applicants by including various financial resources, such as upfront tuition costs, a net cost calculator, and a cost comparison worksheet.

Is The University of South Dakota Legitimate?


A school's accreditation status is the best way to determine its legitimacy. Accreditation is the process of evaluating a school's program offerings alongside its faculty and overall mission as an institution. This is done through a third-party organization that grades a school according to federal education standards. The University of South Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. OnlineU only represents accredited schools on its site.

 

What Is The University of South Dakota Known For?


USD is home to the only law and medical schools in South Dakota and the only public liberal arts college in the state. This makes it stand out as a highly recognized institution in the region. The Sanford School of Medicine specializes in family and rural medicine, while the Knudson School of Law provides flexible learning paths that can be tailored to a student's specific career goals. While online students are unable to attend these schools remotely, they can still earn remote degrees in law and government and a wide range of fields in health and medicine.

Which Degrees at USD Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?


The highest earning degrees at USD are in the nursing field. College Scorecard data shows that graduates can expect to earn around $61,000 three years after graduation. The following degrees are available online: Bachelor of Science in NursingMaster of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice

Not far behind are degrees in health and medical administration, where graduates earn approximately $59,200, and dental support and allied professions, which has an expected salary of about $53,200. While online students cannot access dental degrees, USD offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

OnlineU's Salary Score — which compares alumni salaries from different schools using the same degrees on a scale of 1-100 — for USD is 43 for bachelor's graduates and 58 for master's graduates.

Does The University of South Dakota Have Online Degrees?


Even the most popular online schools offer in-person learning alongside their remote degrees. USD offers online degrees as well as traditional, in-person programs. Eight schools on campus — including the School of Health Sciences and College of Fine Arts — feature more than 200 programs. Online students have access to 50 degree programs, and 30-40% of USD students take classes exclusively online, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What Are the Admission Requirements for USD?


The admission process for USD differs slightly depending on the type of students applying to college and whether they're military, transfer, first-year, or international students. Regardless of status, students must meet USD's general requirements, which include a high school GPA of 2.6 and a C grade average or better in English, math, social sciences, fine art, and laboratory science. 

If the above requirements are met, students can apply by following these steps:

  • Fill out an online application. This can be completed through the Common App or on the USD website
  • Submit a nonrefundable $20 application fee.
  • Students who fill out the application through the USD website must send their high school transcripts to admissions.docs@usd.edu, while the Common App allows students to upload their transcripts directly. 
  • Send SAT or ACT exam scores directly to USD from the testing agency. 

Students can expect to hear back from the school in less than two weeks.