60%
Graduation Rate
79%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At University of South Dakota, the graduation rate is 60 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 79 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 56.21% (public Research University with high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 777 students out of 1,297 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at University of South Dakota.
By gender, 278 male and 499 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
| Total | 1,297 | 777 | 59.91% |
| Men | 493 | 278 | 56.39% |
| Women | 804 | 499 | 62.06% |
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at University of South Dakota.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 11.76%
- Asian: 60.00%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 38.46%
- Hispanic: 40.68%
- White: 62.72%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 33.33%
- Two or More Race: 53.23%
- Unknown: 75.00%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 11.76%(2/17) |
- |
22.22%(2/9) |
|---|
| Asian | 60.00%(9/15) |
75.00%(3/4) |
54.55%(6/11) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 38.46%(15/39) |
43.48%(10/23) |
31.25%(5/16) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 40.68%(24/59) |
39.13%(9/23) |
41.67%(15/36) |
|---|
| White | 62.72%(673/1,073) |
60.56%(238/393) |
63.97%(435/680) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 33.33%(1/3) |
- |
33.33%(1/3) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 53.23%(33/62) |
38.46%(10/26) |
63.89%(23/36) |
|---|
| Unknown | 75.00%(3/4) |
50.00%(1/2) |
100.00%(2/2) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At USD, the transfer-out rate is 24.83%.
USD's retention rate is 79% for full-time students and 46 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 77.30%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At University of South Dakota, 17 of 25 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 68.00%.