Enrollment at South Dakota’s public universities increased by 5% this year, from 34,370 students last fall to 36,091 students this fall, an increase of 1,721 students, according to data released Wednesday.

This is the third consecutive year enrollment has increased across the South Dakota Board of Regents system. The SDBOR attributes this growth to more students and families recognizing the value of a college degree, and “the cost advantages the state’s public institutions offer,” noting tuition freezes give students greater financial certainty, the organization said in a release.

“Postsecondary attainment continues to be a key driver of career success and personal development,” SDBOR executive director Nathan Lukkes said in a press release. “Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to excel in their chosen professions for a lifetime.”

The SDBOR also pointed to a six-year high in student headcount, an increase in first-year students and strong retention.

The headcount enrollment number differs from the full-time equivalent enrollment, which is based on 15 credit hours for undergraduates, 12 for master and doctoral degrees, 13.3 for nursing, 15 for law, 17.3 for pharmacy and 129 for medicine.

Full-time equivalent enrollment increased systemwide by 1,115 from the previous year, from 24,414 to 25,529, an increase of 4.5%.

Last year’s enrollment report: SD Regents report steady enrollment growth at 6 colleges for 2nd consecutive year

“The commitment to making higher education accessible by our governor, legislature, universities, and Board of Regents is steadfast,” SDBOR President Tim Rave said in a press release. “The partnership between these entities ensures that South Dakota’s first-rate public universities remain among the most cost-effective options in the country.”

South Dakota State University

2023 headcount: 11,505

2024 headcount: 12,065

SDSU grew by 560 students, or 4.8%.

This is the highest enrollment SDSU has seen since 2018, when the headcount was at 12,107. SDSU attributes the large growth this year to a record first-year class of 2,449 students, beating the previous record of 2,306 set in 2013, and record retention at 83.8%.

The number of first-year students from South Dakota also grew this year by 7.4% to 1,237, and first-year students from the Sioux Falls metro area increased 10%, drawing nearly 400 students from the area, according to a press release from SDSU.

SDSU President Barry Dunn said in a press release that South Dakota students continue to recognize the great value SDSU provides them and the opportunities available as they explore and find the majors and educational pathways they are most passionate about.

“The growth from the Sioux Falls metro area is certainly important and validates the efforts we have made to connect with education, industry and civic leaders over the past few years to strengthen the relationship between the state’s largest, most comprehensive university and South Dakota’s largest community,” Dunn added.

SDSU’s goal to get an R1 research designation continues this year as the university’s number of doctoral research Ph.D. candidates grew 13.1%, to 268 students.

International student enrollment grew 17.7% to 826 students, which included a 30.3% increase in undergraduate international students and a 7.8% increase in graduate international students. Students came to SDSU from 77 different countries and 47 states.

University of South Dakota

2023 headcount: 9,868

2024 headcount: 10,619

USD grew by 751 students, or 7.6%.

This fall set multiple records for the university, including a new all-time record in overall headcount, its all-time largest entering class of first-time full-time undergraduate students at 1,371, and a record 3,000 students in total graduate enrollment, including those at the Knudson School of Law and the Sanford School of Medicine.

USD also saw its enrollment at the USD-Sioux Falls campus — which gives the community a public university option as an alternative to the traditional college experience — increase 17.2% from last year.

“We are excited to see continued growth at our Sioux Falls campus given its crucial role in strengthening the workforce in business, health care and education,” USD President Sheila Gestring said in a press release.

The undergraduate majors with the highest enrollment among USD’s entering class include business, nursing, computer science and medical biology. The master’s of science in business analytics program grew 80% over last year.

Occupancy for on-campus housing is at 96% this fall as the student population grows, and Scott Pohlson, the vice president for enrollment, marketing/university relations and student services, said USD anticipated the large incoming class and worked proactively to offer an optional housing exemption process.

“Students who want to live on campus continue to have that option,” Pohlson explained in a press release. “For those who wish to live off campus, the exemption process gives our students more flexibility in choosing the path that’s right for them.”

Dakota State University

2023 headcount: 3,509

2024 headcount: 3,774

DSU grew by 265 students, or 7.5%.

DSU President José-Marie Griffiths attributed the growth to knowledgeable and inspirational faculty, passionate and high-achieving students, and dedicated support staff.

“Critical support for our students also comes from generous alumni donors and other stakeholders including our many industry partners, as well as our state legislators and Congressional representatives,” Griffiths added in a press release.

A majority of DSU students are online-only, and those numbers are up 13.5%, to 2,367 students. 853 students live in DSU residence halls. There are 197 international students at DSU, an increase of 41%.

Throughout the last decade, the number of master’s and doctoral students at DSU has grown from 311 in 2014 to 708 this fall, including a 26.9% jump from last fall to this fall alone.

Graduate degrees are becoming an increasingly important way for working professionals to update and expand their skill sets as technology continues to impact “every facet of our world,” DSU Provost Rebecca Hoey said in a press release.

“Whether in technology fields like cybersecurity or artificial intelligence, business and information systems, or education, individuals want to be prepared for what the future will bring,” Hoey added. “Our cutting-edge, affordable, and flexible graduate degrees offer this to professionals who want to prepare themselves for the next steps in their career path.”

Northern State University

2023 headcount: 3,521

2024 headcount: 3,708

NSU grew by 187 students, or 5.3%.

This fall, NSU has its largest new first-time class since 2014, with 358 students, and the largest headcount it’s seen since at least 1998.

NSU attributes its growth to the implementation of its strategic enrollment plan in 2022, and a 20% increase in first-time students and an 11% increase in headcount enrollment since then.

What drew such a large first-year class were the pre-nursing, accounting, business administration, education, human performance, and sports administration programs, enrollment management officer Eric Kline said.

International student enrollment rose 67%, with 110 exchange and degree-seeking students at NSU from countries in Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia.

NSU’s student population at its Huron Community Campus grew this year from 57 to 84.

Graduate degree-seeking student headcount has risen 53% since 2019 with the strongest growth in accounting analytics, art education, banking and financial services, education leadership and administration, and sports performance and leadership, according to a press release from NSU.

Black Hills State University

2023 headcount: 3,475

2024 headcount: 3,346

BHSU was the only campus to see its enrollment shrink this year, by 129 students, or 3.7%.

Despite that, it recorded an increase in first-time freshmen for the fourth consecutive year with 490 students, the highest mark in five years. Its main Spearfish campus also saw an increase of 15 students.

BHSU also nearly met the retention record from last fall with a rate of 71%, and retention has increased 10% overall since 2020.

“To be up in first time freshmen and hold a consistent retention rate is no easy task,” BHSU President Steve Elliott said. “As Black Hills State University proudly announces the largest freshman class we’ve seen since 2019, I am very pleased with the direction our degree-seeking student population is heading and where BHSU is positioned for the future.”

South Dakota Mines

2023 headcount: 2,492

2024 headcount: 2,579

Mines grew by 87 students, or 3.5%.

“We pride ourselves on being a first-choice STEM university and are thrilled so many students and families continue to see the quality and value of a Mines education,” Mines interim president Lance Roberts said. “We are attracting talented innovators who seek a world-class education and will continue to be leaders in science and engineering.”

BROOKINGS, S.D. — — Mark Gronowski threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns and top-ranked FCS South Dakota State beat Incarnate Word 45-24 on Saturday night.

The Jackrabbits (1-1) were beaten in their season opener at Stillwater, Oklahoma by 17th-ranked Oklahoma State, 44-20, last week.

Gronowski threw a 22-yard score to Grahm Goering with 3:32 before halftime for a 17-10 lead. To start the third quarter, Incarnate Word’s Zach Calzada threw a 69-yard touchdown to Jalen Walthall on a drive that covered 91 yards in just four plays. The drive was aided by a pass interference call on South Dakota State with the Cardinals (1-1) facing third-and-15 at their own 4.

South Dakota State countered and took control when Gronowski threw an 11-yard score to Griffin Wilde with 7:13 left in the third. A little more than three minutes later, Amar Johnson ran it from the 6 for South Dakota’s first two-touchdown lead.

Johnson ran for 112 yards on 19 carries and scored twice. Wilde had 106 yards receiving on 10 receptions with a pair of touchdowns.

Calzada completed 31 of 39 passes for 351 yards and threw three touchdowns.

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SIOUX FALLS — For several years now, the other college football programs in South Dakota have been operating in the shadow of the Jackrabbits.

That may have been a controversial statement at one time, but anyone objecting to it now is not living in reality.

South Dakota State’s opponent this week, the Augustana Vikings, are certainly not going to argue with the pecking order.

The Jackrabbits are reigning two-time Division I FCS national champions, they sell out home games in 19,000 seat Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, have more than a half-dozen alumni in the NFL and are respected at the highest levels of the sport.

The Vikings are in the midst of arguably the most successful era in their program’s long and storied history, reigning NSIC champions and the 14th-ranked team in Division II, but they are, still, a Division II team.

The most recent Division II teams to visit Brookings, Lindenwood and Western Oregon, were defeated 52-7 and 45-7, respectively.

Augustana’s players and coaches know all about this. They’ve watched the Jackrabbits play in Frisco on ABC. They watched them play Oklahoma State in this year’s season opener. They see Dallas Goedert and Tucker Kraft and Christian Rozeboom play on Sundays.

Most of the Vikings probably never dreamed their team would play this team. But ever since it was announced last spring, it’s been circled on the calendar. The Vikings know they’re big underdogs, and they can’t wait to get it on.

“You want to see how good you are in the grand scheme of things,” said defensive end Will Davis. “When you hear names like (SDSU quarterback) Mark Gronowski and some of those other guys, that’s exciting. It gets you pumped. I feel like our expectations are always the same regardless of the opponent but this is definitely different than our other games. There’s going to be a huge crowd and they’re going to be a big challenge.”

Whatever bad blood there was when both teams were in the D2 North Central Conference has subsided. Augustana coach Jerry Olszewski became an admirer of the Jacks and former coach John Stiegelmeier not long after arriving in Sioux Falls, and that respect hasn’t wavered since Jimmy Rogers took over. Olszewski mentions the Jackrabbits often when talking about the things he’s trying to accomplish with his program, and he’s sent assistant coaches up to Brookings. Former SDSU co-defensive coordinator Brian Bergstrom first had that role under Olszewski (he’s now the head coach at Winona State) and current SDSU running backs coach Robbie Rouse also previously had that job with the Vikings. Jackrabbit offensive quality control assistant Kyle Saddler was a record-setting quarterback for Augie under Olszewski.

“They’re on top and they’ve earned it,” said Coach ‘OJ’ as he’s known by friends and colleagues. “We know who they are and how gifted and talented they are but that’s what makes this such a great opportunity for us.”

The respect is mutual. At his Tuesday press conference Rogers noted his admiration for Olszewski and how well the two coaching staffs have gotten along when they’ve crossed paths over the years.

And Rogers was complimentary of what he sees on film, too.

“They’re really good,” Rogers said of the Vikings. “They’re big up front, especially on the O-line, they’ve got a mature running back (Jarod Epperson) who’s been a three-time all-conference player — he’s very impressive. Their wide receiver corps has been impressive. We’ve got our hands full with their skill. Some of these guys are not much different than what we have on our team.”

That might sound like the kind of empty platitude an overdog coach throws out as a way of playing nice with a lesser opponent, but Rogers means it. He’s talked often about how many of the Jacks best players were mostly recruited by Division II schools, and pointed to several standout Jackrabbits in recent years who transferred to SDSU from a Division II school and became starters or key contributors.

“They have several guys who can play at (the FCS) level,” Rogers said. “We’re not going to take anybody lightly. We need to prepare and plan to execute like how we would if we were playing anybody else. We didn’t feel any less than Oklahoma State and they’re not gonna feel any less than us. We’re not gonna disrespect what it takes to win.”

Still, the Vikings know they’re going to be outmanned. That doesn’t mean they can’t compete, but it means their margin for error will be razor thin. Epperson is probably as good as any running back the Jacks will face in the Valley, while the Viking defense has a lot in common with SDSU’s — deep and skilled at all three levels. The Vikings are also going to be playing in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 19,000 fans. The biggest crowds they get in Division II are their home games, typically between 2,000 and 3,000. Some of their road games in the NSIC are played in front of three-digit crowds.

“Their defense reminds me of our defense — the way they move to the ball and put 11 hats on the ball,” Epperson said. “It should be an interesting day to be a running back, that’s for sure. But it’ll be awesome. I’d like to think I thrive in an environment like that and will feed off the energy of a big crowd that’s against you. It should be a fun atmosphere. This is a chance to see where our program is at and how we stack up to the big boys at SDSU. “

There is some familiarity among the players. Viking receiver Canyon Bauer is a former Jackrabbit who has a national championship ring from 2022. And Davis said while he only knows a few guys on the Jacks roster, he smiled reading through their roster, recognizing names of people he played against or remembered from his high school days in the Twin Cities area.

The Vikings should have a solid contingent of fans, but the fact that SDSU now sells out home games means there probably weren’t enough tickets to accommodate every Augie fan that wanted to go.

Can Augie win? Olszewski said it’s important for his team to believe they can, but talk won’t do it. He’s not talking to his team about beating the Jackrabbits — he’s focusing his message on being at their absolute best, because it’ll take nothing less than that to even have a chance.

“We talk about competing,” said the Viking coach, who is 75-41 in 12 years at the helm. “You’re going there to compete. The wins and losses take care of themselves on the scoreboard, but you better believe you’re gonna compete against anybody you go up against, because that’s what you’re called to do. That’s been our message all summer and certainly this week. It starts with us. We’ve got to be our best if we’re going to do anything against a program like the Jacks.”

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.