South Dakota State University Acceptance Rate
Brookings, South Dakota · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,884
- Admitted
- 5,808
- Yield
- 39.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, South Dakota State University's acceptance rate has risen from 92% in 2014–15 to 98.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 5,133 to 5,884 (+15%) over that period.
Its 98.7% rate makes South Dakota State University more selective than about 3% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 11 tracked South Dakota schools, it is more selective than about 9%.
South Dakota State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 39.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,133 | 4,723 | 92% | 2,283 |
| 2015–16 | 5,060 | 4,640 | 91.7% | 2,222 |
| 2016–17 | 5,173 | 4,695 | 90.8% | 2,273 |
| 2017–18 | 5,551 | 5,072 | 91.4% | 2,272 |
| 2018–19 | 5,390 | 4,982 | 92.4% | 2,180 |
| 2019–20 | 5,861 | 5,277 | 90% | 2,123 |
| 2020–21 | 5,290 | 4,705 | 88.9% | 2,087 |
| 2021–22 | 5,774 | 5,048 | 87.4% | 2,019 |
| 2022–23 | 6,364 | 5,478 | 86.1% | 2,191 |
| 2023–24 | 5,884 | 5,808 | 98.7% | 2,274 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,242 | 3,201 | 98.7% |
| Men | 2,642 | 2,607 | 98.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 520–640 | 2% |
| SAT Math | 520–660 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–26 | 81% |
How South Dakota State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is South Dakota State University's acceptance rate?
South Dakota State University's acceptance rate is 98.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,808 admitted of 5,884 applicants).
Is South Dakota State University test optional?
South Dakota State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to South Dakota State University?
South Dakota State University received 5,884 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,808.
What SAT score do you need for South Dakota State University?
Admitted students at South Dakota State University typically scored 520–640 on SAT Reading/Writing and 520–660 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is South Dakota State University getting harder to get into?
South Dakota State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 92% in 2014–15 to 98.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.sdstate.edu/.