Colleges in South Dakota

Colleges in South Dakota (S.D./ SD)
There are more than 3,300 Colleges in the United States, of which approximately 18 are located in South Dakota. The colleges in South Dakota, well known by its nickname the Mount Rushmore State, provide an extensive range of educational opportunities to meet the needs of students who are looking to undertake higher education in one of the colleges in South Dakota.

Universities and Colleges in South Dakota (S.D./ SD)
Names of some of the most popular colleges and universities in South Dakota include South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, Augustana College, Mitchell Technical Institute, Sinte Gleska University, Lake Area Technical Institute, Northern State University, Mount Marty College and Presentation College. A list of names for all of the Colleges and Universities in South Dakota are detailed in this article. You can then check out and compare the best Colleges in South Dakota by accessing their profiles that provide useful facts, stats and information. Discover what makes the colleges in South Dakota special and take the opportunity to visit Pierre, the capital city of South Dakota.

Universities and Colleges in South Dakota - List of Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: Check out the List containing the names of all of the Colleges in South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State, which provide access to interesting facts about the top 4-year Private and Public state universities, the best Community Colleges, Junior and Christian schools available in the state. Major cities in South Dakota include Sioux Falls, 153,897; Rapid City , 67,956; Aberdeen, 26,091; Brookings, 22,056; Watertown, 21,482; Mitchell, 15.265; Yankton, 14,454; Pierre , 13,646; Huron, 12,592; Vermillion, 10,571.

Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: Colleges in South Dakota are in no way inferior to universities, the difference is that colleges tend to be smaller than universities and usually provide under graduate degrees, whereas larger universities in South Dakota, such as South Dakota State University and Augustana College, also provide the option for graduate degrees.

Colleges in South Dakota - Housing considerations: When considering housing it is necessary to weigh up the advantages of off-campus and on-campus accommodation. Check out the price differences of rooms, availability and whether it would be acceptable to share a room or live in a dormitory. It is also necessary to take into account the cost of travel expenses if choosing the option to live off campus in South Dakota. 

Cost of Colleges in South Dakota: The cost of colleges in South Dakota vary considerably and an important consideration in the choice of college. The basic Tuition fees are detailed in the college and university catalogs but the financial cost of higher education must include calculations related to the additional costs of housing, food and travel expenses, which might include the cost of buying a car and automobile insurance. Books, and the cost of any other necessary equipment required for study at universities and colleges, also need to be taken into account. When calculating the cost of colleges in South Dakota it is also important to remember that many colleges and universities in South Dakota increase their tuition costs on a yearly basis.

'Out of State' Costs in South Dakota: The college with the one of the most expensive Out of State costs is Augustana College, a Private school with 1,793 Undergraduates, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with tuition fees and costs in excess of $35,600.

Private Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: Tuition Fees are usually higher at Private Colleges and Universities but there is no distinction made between state and non-state residents. Private Colleges and Universities are generally much smaller in size and are often academically rigorous. The names of the Private Colleges and Universities in South Dakota include Augustana College, Colorado Technical University Sioux Falls, Dakota Wesleyan University, Globe University Sioux Falls, Kilian Community College, Mount Marty College, National American University Ellsworth AFB Extension, National American University Rapid City, National American University Sioux Falls, Presentation College, Sinte Gleska University and the University of Sioux Falls.

Colleges in South Dakota - Community Colleges: The public Community Colleges, often referred to as two-year colleges or junior colleges, in the state of South Dakota offer excellent 2-year programs, simplified admission systems and lower tuition fees and costs. Community Colleges, such as Mitchell Technical Institute, in South Dakota provide vocational and technical education and also provide a gateway for continuing education to full bachelor degree programs at four year universities and colleges.

City vs Rural Based Campuses of Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: City based campuses in South Dakota offer a lively student lifestyle with opportunities for experiencing the historical and cultural elements of a city which is useful for students who require easy access to art galleries and museums. A city school also enables students to enjoy the entertainment facilities available to city dwellers such as the theater. The state capital of South Dakota is Pierre. Rural based campuses are naturally quieter appealing to students who are used to this type of lifestyle. The rural colleges in South Dakota tend to have far less distractions in a study centered environment.

The Size of Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: The size of a college or university should also be taken into account as there are vast differences in the size of campuses. The largest university in the state, in terms of student enrollment, is the South Dakota State University, located in Brookings, South Dakota with 11,118 undergraduates.

Social Life of Top Colleges in South Dakota - Sports: The social life of colleges in South Dakota vary but the best 4-year universities and colleges, for instance the University of South Dakota (USD) and Augustana College, offer a wide range of sports, social and cultural extracurricular activities in addition to the academic courses and programs. These provide opportunities to participate in sporting activities and joining, for example, soccer or athletic teams. Non sporting participants take great pleasure in attending college sporting events and supporting their college teams. One of the most successful college football teams in the state are known by the nickname of the "South Dakota State Jackrabbits".

School Colors and Mascots: Most of the top schools have their own mascots and are associated with college colors reflected in sports uniforms or apparel and as a form of identity when the school competes in sports and other intercollegiate activities. "South Dakota State Jackrabbits" is the nickname for the South Dakota State University football team whose school colors are Blue and Yellow and the name of their mascot is "Jack Rabbit". Sports offered at the top universities and colleges in South Dakota might include baseball, cross-country running, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field athletics and volleyball.

Top Colleges in South Dakota - Extracurricular Activities: Other extracurricular activities for students might include drama, dance, bands and orchestras, debating societies, academic clubs, theater, working with the campus radio, television station or film productions. Other students enjoy the opportunity of producing the student newspaper or a literary magazine. Others become involved in student government.

Colleges in South Dakota - Sororities and Fraternities: The Higher education in the United States, including the state of South Dakota, features a unique system in campus life called the Greek System which offers students the opportunity to join the best social, academic and philanthropic organizations at colleges and universities called Sororities (female) and Fraternities (male).

Colleges in South Dakota Academic Calendar: The United States academic year generally runs from the beginning of September until the end of May, although some Colleges in South Dakota offer optional 6 to 8 week summer terms to enable students to finish their degrees in a shorter period. The two main 18 week terms are called semesters although some Colleges in South Dakota have 12 week trimesters or quarters.

Colleges in South Dakota - Admission Systems: The admissions systems of the Colleges in South Dakota are used to assess the suitability of students and determine their potential for success at their schools.  Admission systems in the top four-year universities and colleges in South Dakota, such as the University of South Dakota (USD) and Augustana College, affectionately known as “Augie”, use SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), GPA scores and ACT (American College Testing assessment) scores, together with extracurricular activities undertaken by students, their hobbies, work experience, recommendation letters and volunteer work, to assess their suitability for higher education at their schools.

Colleges in South Dakota - Majors and Minors: A major is the choice of study in which students want  to concentrate. A minor is a subject that students choose as their second concentration of courses offered at the universities and colleges in South Dakota. Honors programs are often embarked upon by students who achieve high grades.

Major Fields of study in Colleges and Universities in South Dakota: The major fields of study in Colleges and Universities in South Dakota are Education, Law, Agriculture, Engineering, Sciences, English & Literature, Visual & Performing Arts, Ethnic Studies, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Military Science, Parks & Recreation, Engineering-Related Technology, Philosophy, Religion & Theology, Public Affairs, Law and Social Sciences.

Colleges in South Dakota - Liberal Arts: The best Liberal Art colleges in South Dakota offer a broad base of courses in subjects such as literature, history, math, languages and life sciences. Most of the top Liberal Art colleges in South Dakota are private and offer 4 year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree (BA). Liberal arts colleges colleges prepare students for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

Colleges in South Dakota - Acceptance Rates: The South Dakota Acceptance rates vary from Low, Moderate and Highly Competitive. One of the most selective schools in the state is Presentation College. Presentation College is located in Aberdeen, SD, with an Acceptance Rate of 66%, from Applications received totalling 401 with total Undergraduates numbering 747.

Colleges in South Dakota - Accreditation: The universities and colleges in South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State, receive approval by nationally recognized regional accrediting organizations or professional associations. For students intending to transfer from a top 2 year junior college to a top 4 year college it is necessary to ensure recognition for the first two years of study.

Universities and Colleges in South Dakota: The universities and colleges in South Dakota reflect values of the state's rich history encapsulated in its motto "Under God the people rule". The flag of South Dakota depicts the an old image of the Seal of South Dakota with the state motto "Under God the People Rule." South Dakota colleges and universities offer, in keeping with its commitment to education, a wide range of top educational programs to its many students. The oldest college in South Dakota is the Augustana College, located in Sioux Falls, SD, which was founded in 1860.

Colleges and Universities: The articles about the colleges and universities in South Dakota and their requirements provide some interesting facts to help students and their parents decide what makes a school special with useful information that will enable you to balance academics, student lifestyle and affordability of schools in South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State. Compare your choices with the most popular universities and colleges in the state, such as South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, Augustana College, San Diego State, Mitchell Technical Institute, Sinte Gleska University, Lake Area Technical Institute, Northern State University, Black Hills State UniversityMount Marty College and Presentation College.