The average acceptance rate for South Dakota Colleges in the 2024-2025 academic year is 82.32%. This represents a 0.09% increase compared to the previous year's acceptance rate.
Analyzing acceptance rate trends over the past 5 years (2020-2025), South Dakota Colleges has experienced a 1.91% decrease in acceptance rates, moving from 84.24% to 82.32%. Among the 11 competitive 4-year colleges in South Dakota Colleges, 5 schools have increased their acceptance rates while 6 schools have become more selective over this 5-year period.
The following analysis shows how acceptance rates have changed over the past 5 years for South Dakota Colleges. Out of 11 schools with available data, 5 schools (45.5%) have seen an increase in their acceptance rates, while 6 schools (54.5%) experienced a decrease.
For comprehensive admission data including acceptance rates, number of applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for 2025, visit our South Dakota Colleges admission statistics comparison table.
| School Name | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 5-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD | 71.38% | 71.82% 0.44% | 65.79% 6.03% | 59.25% 6.54% | 67.75% 8.5% | 3.63% |
| Black Hills State UniversitySpearfish, SD | 97.14% | 97.25% 0.11% | 96.64% 0.61% | 94.43% 2.21% | 96.33% 1.9% | 0.81% |
| Dakota State UniversityMadison, SD | 83.57% | 85.61% 2.04% | 78.91% 6.7% | 97.87% 18.96% | 88.05% 9.83% | 4.48% |
| Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD | 64.20% | 75.74% 11.54% | 74.77% 0.97% | 72.77% 2.01% | 73.38% 0.61% | 9.17% |
| Mount Marty UniversityYankton, SD | 78.43% | 67.37% 11.05% | 68.39% 1.01% | 48.14% 20.25% | 42.57% 5.57% | 35.85% |
| National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kairos UniversitySioux Falls, SD | 95.45% | 62.07% 33.39% | 100.00% 37.93% | 74.29% 25.71% | 84.62% 10.33% | 10.84% |
| Northern State UniversityAberdeen, SD | 78.71% | 79.82% 1.11% | 78.14% 1.68% | 92.79% 14.65% | 93.00% 0.21% | 14.29% |
| Oglala Lakota CollegeKyle, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, SD | 85.55% | 80.48% 5.07% | 82.69% 2.21% | 85.25% 2.56% | 79.87% 5.38% | 5.68% |
| South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD | 88.94% | 87.43% 1.52% | 86.08% 1.35% | 98.71% 12.63% | 98.34% 0.37% | 9.4% |
| Sinte Gleska UniversityMission, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SD | 92.29% | 76.65% 15.64% | 75.95% 0.7% | 82.08% 6.13% | 82.89% 0.81% | 9.4% |
| Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeSisseton, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| University of South DakotaVermillion, SD | 90.95% | 87.01% 3.94% | 99.46% 12.46% | 98.95% 0.51% | 98.78% 0.18% | 7.83% |
| California Intercontinental UniversitySioux Falls, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Institute of Lutheran TheologyBrookings, SD | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Average | 84.24% | 79.20% 5.03% | 82.44% 3.23% | 82.23% 0.21% | 82.32% 0.09% | -1.91% |