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South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

Students on Campus
Brookings Location
Metro Population
Students on Campus
Brookings Location
Metro Population

About This Campus

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive higher- education institution. As South Dakota’s Morrill Act land-grant university, SDSU had a fall 2025 enrollment of 12,139, with students coming from 48 states and 78 countries. Students can choose from 86 majors, 35 specializations, 107 minors, 39 master’s degree programs, 17 Ph.D. programs and two professional doctorates. The university also offers courses at various off-campus sites as well as undergraduate and graduate programs online through the Office of Continuing and Distance Education. Maximize your Jackrabbit experience during your time at South Dakota State University. Expand your views on the world by meeting fellow students from all walks of life. Succeed on and beyond campus through our many student success programs. Feel safe in knowing our campus and surrounding community have been voted among the top safest places to live, learn and work. Make this campus, your campus.

SDSU competes at the NCAA Division I level & provides free admission to students.

The Miller Wellness Center houses state of the art fitness equipment, a variety of recreational and intramural programs

Brookings has been ranked the No. 9 best college town in the Midwest in Rent Cafe’s 2025 Best College Towns.

Helpful Information

SDSU Offers 100% chance of placement on Host or Home Pay.

Location Information

Named the 33rd safest college town by SafeWise (2022), Brookings (pop. 24,555) is 55 miles north of Sioux Falls on Interstate-29, 200 miles from Minneapolis and 400 miles east of Rapid City and the Black Hills. Students from Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa also find SDSU within an easy day’s drive. Brookings provides its residents with many outdoor activities including hunting, camping, fishing, and cross-country skiing.

Academics

REGISTRATION:
TERM DATES:

Fall Start Date: 08/24/2026 - Fall End Date: 12/16/2026

Spring Start Date: 01/11/2027 - Spring End Date: 05/07/2027

CLOSED PROGRAMS:

Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Lab Science, Respiratory Care

OPTIONS:

Honors Access: Yes

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS OPEN TO NSE STUDENTS:

Conditions

GPA AND OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
  • General Eligibility Requirements
  • 2.5 - GPA Required
  • No students accepted from campuses within Canada (for Canadian campuses only)
  • No undocumented students accepted (for U.S. campuses only)
  • No DACA students accepted (for U.S. campuses only)
  • No students accepted from within my own state, province, or territory
EXCHANGE PREFERENCES:
  • Full Year Exchange: Accepted
  • Single Term Exchange: Accepted
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (Visa Students):
  • Receive from Canada: Not Participating
  • Does your campus accept International Students (those already in the U.S. on a student visa)?
CANADIAN EXCHANGE:
Learn More
  • Accept international students studying in Canada on a visa? - No
  • Accept Canadian students on J1 visa or F1 visa? -

Tuition/Finance

Figures per Semester are current as of 12/02/2025
TUITION:
  • Campus Budget
  • Fees are subject to change without notice
  • Home Tuition Payment: Available
  • Away Tuition Payment: Available
    Estimated cost:
    Per Term Tuition (Resident-Rate) - $3999
    Per Term Mandatory Fees - $778
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER:
  • Home Payment: 18
  • Host Payment: 18
MISCELLANEOUS FEES:
Purpose
Amount
Period
Plan
Status
Activity Fee
$52
Credit Hour
Away
Mandatory
Parking Fee
$165
Year
Away & Home
Optional
Housing Fee
$75
Year
Away & Home
Mandatory
Admission Fee
$20
Year
Away & Home
Mandatory
IMPORTANT NOTES:

Online tutition rate per credit hour $365.05

Financial Aid for NSE Students. Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Room/Meals

Figures per Semester are current as of 12/03/2025
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING PER SEMESER:
  • Is on-campus housing available? Yes
  • Is on-campus living required? No
  • Number of reserved housing spaces: 0
  • Average Room Cost (per term): $0
  • On-Campus Housing
Off-CAMPUS HOUSING:
MEAL PLANS:
  • Are meal plans available on campus? Yes
  • Is a meal plan purchase required for on-campus, non-apartment residence halls? Yes
  • Average Meal Plan Cost (per term): $0
  • Campus Meal Plans
NOTES ABOUT MEAL PLANS:

Students living in on-campus housing are required to have a meal plan. As part of a student's meal plan, leftover flex dollars carry over from the first semester of an academic year to the second semester of an academic year. Leftover block meals do not carry over from first semester to second semester. All unused meal plan funds, flex dollars and block meals, do not carry over from one academic year to the next.

Fees are subject to change without notice.

Chance of Acceptance

Priority Placements for Academic Year 26/27

If this is your top choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

Away Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

If this is your alternate choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

Away Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

Resources

CAMPUS SOCIAL MEDIA: