Admission Test Scores Trends for South Dakota Colleges

South Dakota Colleges SAT Score Key Trends

SAT Scores have Risen: The average SAT score has increased by 174.5 points, from 1,012 to 1,186.
ACT Scores have Risen: The average ACT score has increased by 0.5 points, from 22.5 to 23.
Competitiveness: South Dakota colleges' SAT score described as average to slightly above average, while ACT scores are average.

The 2025 average SAT scores submitted by enrolled students in South Dakota colleges is 1,186. Compared to the SAT scores of 10 years ago, the score becomes higher from 1,012 to 1,186. The 25^th percentile SAT score is 1,087 and the 75^th percentile score is 1,285 at South Dakota Colleges. The South Dakota Colleges' average ACT scores is 23 and it is higher than 23, score of 10 years ago.

SAT Scores Over Time

The average SAT score of the last 10 years is 978 (25^th percentile) and 1,213 (75^th percentile). The submitted SAT scores of admitted students are relatively competitive and high (above the national average) at South Dakota Colleges.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in SAT scores at South Dakota Colleges since 2025.

Year	Total			Math			EBRW
Year	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th
2014-15	883	1,012	1,140	445	520	595	438	492	545
2015-16	894	1,010	1,125	459	519	579	435	491	546
2016-17	894	1,017	1,139	457	516	575	437	501	564
2017-18	957	1,093	1,228	479	548	616	478	545	612
2018-19	985	1,092	1,199	496	548	599	489	545	600
2019-20	998	1,108	1,218	505	558	610	493	551	608
2020-21	1,018	1,123	1,227	510	563	615	508	560	612
2021-22	989	1,103	1,217	498	554	609	491	550	608
2022-23	979	1,116	1,252	492	564	635	487	552	617
2023-24	1,075	1,196	1,316	541	595	668	534	590	648
2024-25	1,087	1,186	1,285	556	601	656	531	579	629
Average	978	1,096	1,213	494	553	614	484	541	599

^*SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing replaces SAT critical reading and writing since year 2017.

^**The SAT Writing score is excluded from the total scores for year from 2011 to 2016.

South Dakota Colleges SAT Score Trends Chart

South Dakota Colleges SAT Math Score Trends Chart

South Dakota Colleges SAT EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) Trends Chart

ACT Scores Over Time

The average ACT score of the last 10 years is 20 (25^th percentile) and 25 (75^th percentile). The submitted ACT scores of admitted students are around national average at South Dakota Colleges. The following table and chart show the changes in ACT scores at South Dakota Colleges since 2025.

Year	Composite			English			Math
Year	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th
2014-15	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	22	25
2015-16	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	22	25
2016-17	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	22	25
2017-18	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	23	26
2018-19	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	22	25
2019-20	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	23	26
2020-21	19	22	25	18	22	25	19	22	25
2021-22	19	22	25	18	22	25	19	23	26
2022-23	19	22	25	17	21	25	19	23	26
2023-24	20	22	26	18	22	25	19	23	26
2024-25	20	23	26	18	22	25	19	23	26
Average	20	23	25	18	22	25	19	23	26

South Dakota Colleges ACT Score Trends Chart

South Dakota Colleges ACT Math Score Trends Chart

South Dakota Colleges ACT English Trends Chart