The average acceptance rate at USD over the past 10 years is 89.59%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 98.78%. The acceptance rate at USD is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 34.51%, and the 2025 yield is 24.07%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 41.99% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of USD applicants increased by 11.52% (616 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 41.42% overall.
Key Takeaways: USD Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 98.78%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that USD is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 24.07%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at USD. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, USD received approximately 5,965 applications, admitted 5,892 students, and enrolled 1,418 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that USD is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
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Acceptance Rate Changes
USD 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at USD over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 89.59%, while the most recent rate stands at 98.78%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 98.78%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 88.19% and for women is 90.49%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at USD have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
USD has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 41.49% in 2015 to 24.07% in 2025, representing a 41.99% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 34.51%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at USD from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 41.99% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 4,370, the average number of admitted is 3,945, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,310.
The number of USD applicants increased by 11.52% (616 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 41.42% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of South Dakota from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares University of South Dakota' acceptance rate to similar schools.