
The University of South Dakota offers a range of financial aid options for its graduate students, including PhD candidates. The cost of attendance for graduate students at the University of South Dakota varies, and there are several factors that influence the final cost. These factors include tuition fees, housing, meal plans, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. The University of South Dakota offers lower tuition fees compared to the national average, with in-state tuition at $9,432 and out-of-state tuition at $12,942. Additionally, the university provides need-based and merit-based scholarships and grants, with the average need-based scholarship for first-year students being $7,012 and the average merit-based scholarship being $2,943. The Western Regional Graduate Program also allows PhD students from certain states to enroll at a resident tuition rate. On-campus housing is limited and prioritized for undergraduates, so graduate students are encouraged to seek off-campus accommodations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | $9,432 for in-state students and $12,942 for out-of-state students |
| Total cost | $24,183 for in-state students and $27,693 for out-of-state students |
| Net price | $17,034 for in-state students and $21,719 for out-of-state students |
| Average need-based scholarship | $7,012 |
| Average non-need-based scholarship | $2,943 |
| Percentage of financial aid need met | 62% |
| South Dakota-Minnesota Tuition Reciprocity Agreement | Available until the end of the 2023-2024 academic year |
| South Dakota Advantage Program | Available for students from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming |
| Western Regional Graduate Program | Allows students from WICHE-region states to pay up to 150% of in-state tuition |
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What You'll Learn

Tuition fees
The University of South Dakota's tuition fees for the academic year 2023-2024 are $9,432 for in-state students and $12,942 for out-of-state students. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. The total cost, including food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses, is $24,183 for in-state students and $27,693 for out-of-state students.
There are various options available to help students pay for their tuition and other costs. Students can apply for financial aid, which is generally awarded based on need or merit. Need-based aid is determined by the student or their family's ability to pay for college, as calculated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at the University of South Dakota is $7,012. Merit-based aid, also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for specific talents or academic achievements. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at the university is $2,943, excluding any athletic scholarships. The University of South Dakota met 62% of its students’ financial aid needs.
The University of South Dakota also offers the South Dakota Advantage Program, which provides resident tuition rates to new freshmen and transfers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota. To qualify, students must have a parent or legal guardian who received a degree from the university. Additionally, the Western Regional Graduate Program allows master's, graduate certificate, and Ph.D. students from Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education member states to enroll in programs at out-of-state institutions and pay resident tuition rates.
Tuition rates and fees at the University of South Dakota are subject to change and are set according to the policies of the South Dakota Board of Regents. The university also offers a Graduate Cost of Attendance estimate, which includes direct costs billed to the student's university account and indirect costs, such as expenses for classes. The cost of attendance is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid needed.
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Funding options
The University of South Dakota offers a range of funding options to support PhD students in their academic pursuits. While the university does not explicitly cover all expenses for PhD candidates, there are various opportunities for financial assistance. Here are some of the key funding options available:
- Federal Financial Aid: PhD students at the University of South Dakota can apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This aid is typically awarded based on financial need and helps cover the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees.
- Scholarships and Grants: The university offers scholarships and grants, such as the average need-based scholarship with an award amount of $7,012 for first-year students. Additionally, merit-based scholarships, excluding athletic scholarships, are available, with an average award of $2,943 for first-year students.
- Tuition Reciprocity Agreements: The university has tuition reciprocity agreements with neighbouring states, such as Minnesota. Under these agreements, graduate students from these states may be eligible for reciprocal tuition rates, making their education more affordable.
- South Dakota Advantage Program: This program offers reduced tuition rates for graduate students who are residents of specific states, including Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP): The WRGP is an agreement among WICHE member states, allowing students from the region to attend out-of-state graduate programs at a discounted rate, paying up to 150% of the in-state tuition.
- Alumni Benefits: If one or both parents of a PhD student graduated from the University of South Dakota, their child may be eligible for resident tuition rates for on-campus courses, excluding specific programs.
- Loans: PhD students may also consider taking out student loans to finance their education. It is important to carefully consider the loan amount and its impact on future financial life.
It is recommended that prospective PhD students at the University of South Dakota explore these funding options and reach out to the university's financial aid office for further guidance and personalised advice.
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Scholarships
The University of South Dakota offers various scholarships to its students. While information on scholarships specific to PhD students is unavailable, here is a list of some of the scholarships offered by the university:
Coyote Beginnings Scholarship
The Coyote Beginnings Scholarship is awarded to incoming freshman students who are South Dakota residents and whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) graduated from the University of South Dakota. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and applications received by April 1 are given full consideration.
USD Valedictorian Scholarship
The USD Valedictorian Scholarship is worth up to $500 (up to $250 per semester for the first two semesters) and is awarded to high school seniors who rank at the top of their graduating classes during the awarding period.
South Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship
The South Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship is offered to South Dakota students who have successfully completed HSDC courses with USD. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years and is awarded in addition to other scholarships. The award amount is based on the number of credit hours completed with USD.
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is offered by the South Dakota Board of Regents. It allows South Dakota's most academically accomplished high school graduates to receive up to a $7,500 scholarship from any accredited university, college, or technical school in South Dakota.
Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship
The Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship provides a $20,000 scholarship disbursed throughout a student’s collegiate career. The scholarship assists high school students who have faced great obstacles in their young lives to overcome their adversities, attend a post-secondary institution and achieve success. To be eligible, a student must be committed to completing a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Dakota and be enrolled full-time in high school, progressing towards graduation with plans to enter college.
Scholarship for Transfer Students
The University of South Dakota offers scholarships to eligible transfer students with a minimum 3.0 GPA or transfer students from two-year colleges who have earned membership into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. These students must intend to pursue their first baccalaureate degree at the university. The scholarships provide a minimum of $2,000 (up to $1,000 per year) renewable for two years.
Scholarship for Children of Alumni
If one or both parents graduated with a degree from the University of South Dakota, their children are eligible for resident tuition for on-campus courses. This does not apply to students in law, medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant, or occupational therapy programs.
Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship
Each South Dakota public university may nominate one student for the Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship. To be eligible, a student must be classified as a junior at a public university at the time of receiving funding.
Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship
The Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship is awarded to first-time freshmen at the University of South Dakota who will select elementary education as their major field. Special consideration is given to students with demonstrated motivational ability, a disability, or who are self-supporting.
Scholarship for Minnesota Students
The South Dakota-Minnesota Tuition Reciprocity Agreement allows Minnesota graduate students enrolled or entering before Fall 2024 to receive reciprocal rates until they complete their degree. Starting Summer 2025, new students will pay either the SD Advantage rate (if they have an undergraduate degree from an SDBOR institution and are Minnesota residents) or the Non-Resident tuition rate.
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Housing costs
The University of South Dakota offers a variety of residence hall environments to complement your college experience. The residence halls within North Complex (Beede, Mickelson, Richardson, and Olson Halls) offer first-year and upper-class students a great opportunity to get involved in academic and social groups, living learning communities, and activities. The majority of students who live on campus reside in the North Complex. Coyote Village is a four-story, 175-unit complex located just south of the DakotaDome. Coyote Village's suite-style and apartment living options allow you to be as social or as private as you want. Suites include a communal kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave, while apartments also include an oven/stove. McFadden Hall offers privacy and the convenience of living on campus. McFadden houses 100 students in four-person apartments and allows you to be as social or as private as you'd like. Parking garages are available at an extra cost, and laundry rooms are located on the second and third floors.
The Burgess and Norton complex focuses on smaller student communities, giving you more chances for involvement. Burgess and Norton halls are conveniently located near Dakota, Noteboom, and East Halls, as well as the Delzell Education Center and the Arts & Sciences Building.
First- and second-year students are required to live on campus and have a meal plan. The South Dakota Board of Regents Policy 3:6 requires all students enrolled in six or more on-campus credits to live in on-campus housing and have a meal plan during the first two years following their high school graduation. Students can request a meal plan exemption by submitting the meal plan change form. The request will be denied if the student does not return their completed paperwork to University Housing within two weeks.
Graduate students are encouraged to secure off-campus housing. On-campus housing capacity is limited, and undergraduate students have priority for the available on-campus housing options. The cost of pursuing an advanced degree at the University of South Dakota varies. Students are assigned a federal aid cost of attendance once they file a FAFSA, which is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid needed. Direct costs are those costs that are automatically billed to your university account. Indirect costs are expenses that would still be incurred, but not charged by the university. The amount listed is based on an average of the residence options available and a standard food allowance that provides the equivalent of three meals each day. Your actual costs may differ depending on your housing assignment and meal plan choice.
The University of South Dakota's tuition is $9,432 for in-state and $12,942 for out-of-state students. The total cost is $24,183 for in-state students and $27,693 for out-of-state students. The net price is the average cost of the university after aid and scholarship funds are discounted from the total cost, which come in on average at $17,034 for in-state students and $21,719 for out-of-state students receiving need-based aid. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at the University of South Dakota was $7,012. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $2,943. The University of South Dakota met 62% of its students' financial aid needs.
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Application fees
The University of South Dakota does not pay for PhD students, but it does offer a variety of scholarships to both domestic and international students. The university awarded over $50 million in scholarships to students in the 2021-2022 academic year.
The University of South Dakota charges an application fee of $35 for graduate programs. This fee is included in the general GradCAS application but must be paid separately for specialty CAS applications (SLP, law, medical, nursing, OT, PT, PA, and MSW). The application fee cannot be waived, deferred, or refunded.
For international students, the application fee is $50. The University of South Dakota does not have a minimum GPA requirement for international students, but the average GPA for admitted students is 3.5.
Additionally, the university offers a non-degree-seeking student classification, which allows students to take graduate courses without formally enrolling in a degree program. The $35 Graduate School application fee also applies to this classification.
It is important to note that application procedures and requirements may vary for each student type and program. Therefore, prospective applicants should carefully review the specific requirements for their intended program before submitting their application and required materials.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of South Dakota does not explicitly state that they pay for PhD students. However, they do offer various financial aid options, scholarships, and grants to help with the cost of attendance.
The cost of attendance for graduate students at the University of South Dakota varies and depends on several factors, such as residency status, program fees, and living expenses. The tuition for South Dakota residents is $9,432, while non-residents pay $12,942. The total cost, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, is estimated to be $24,183 for in-state and $27,693 for out-of-state students.
Yes, the University of South Dakota offers various scholarships and financial aid options for graduate students. The average need-based scholarship or grant for first-year students is $7,012, while the average non-need-based scholarship is $2,943. The university also participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program, which allows out-of-state students to pay resident tuition rates.
To apply for financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will determine your eligibility for need-based aid and the amount of financial assistance you may receive. You can also explore other scholarship opportunities offered by the university and external organizations.































