South Dakota
Regents report 5% enrollment growth across South Dakota’s public university system
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.”
LARCHWOOD, Iowa (KIWA) – A Tea, South Dakota man has been arrested on a felony domestic abuse charge after an incident near Larchwood.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Iowa State Patrol, 45-year-old Beau Christensen of Tea is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in their hotel room at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort near Larchwood. He was arrested on Wednesday, July 8.
In his statement, the state trooper who filed the report says Christensen put his hands around the victim’s neck. The victim stated she could not breathe while this was happening.
Christensen was charged with domestic abuse assault – impeding air or blood flow, a class D felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
He faces a preliminary hearing on Friday, July 10.
At last report, Christensen remained in the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids in lieu of a $6000 bond.
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BROOKINGS, S.D. – Instead of boarding airplanes or planning weeklong vacations, many South Dakota families are spending summer weekends closer to home, filling festivals, community events and family attractions that offer affordable ways to make memories together.
That trend is showing up across the state, according to South Dakota tourism officials. And organizers of many local events say they’ve watched it evolve over decades.
“We did re-coin that term ‘staycation’ again this year,” said Shari Budahl Avery, publicity chair for the 55-year-old Brookings Summer Arts Festival. “If things are a little tight but you want to get away for a day, we can provide that experience.”
Families are redefining summer travel
Travel South Dakota has reported that many travelers are choosing more affordable destinations, taking shorter trips and staying closer to home because of continued economic uncertainty. The department said South Dakota is well positioned because many visitors already travel by car from nearby states.
According to the department, 58% of visitors travel within 150 miles of home, and affordability, scenic beauty and family experiences remain among the state’s strongest attractions.
Travel South Dakota reports that visitors rate the state highly for affordability and family experiences, with 87% saying they would recommend South Dakota to others and 90% planning to return.
Shawn Steward, public affairs manager for AAA South Dakota, said travelers look for ways to make summer vacations fit their finances rather than canceling them altogether.
“People still want to travel,” Steward said in an interview with South Dakota News Watch. “They’re just making different choices.”
Steward said many families are adjusting by taking shorter trips, traveling by car instead of flying or choosing destinations closer to home, trends that align with what tourism officials and local event organizers are seeing across South Dakota.
Local events become summer destinations
Budahl Avery said those statewide trends match what festival organizers have observed for years.
“We’re kind of dead center in a pretty good population center,” she said. “People can come on what one friend from Texas called a ‘tank trip’ – somewhere you can drive on one tank of gas and get home.”
The two-day festival features about 178 juried artists, live entertainment, children’s activities, food vendors and historical demonstrations. Budahl Avery said the goal is to create an experience where multiple generations can spend time together without needing an expensive vacation.
Affordable, convenient entertainment
During a recent stop in Brookings, the Cardin International Circus drew families from across the region. Ringmaster and comedian Rulito Videla said attendance varies from city to city, but he believes many families are looking for affordable experiences closer to home.
“If they are staying home, support your local events,” Videla said. “The circus is family-oriented entertainment. You create memories.”
Visitors interviewed in Brookings described making similar choices.
Erica Quam said her family often prefers several smaller outings over one major vacation.
“We live right near Brookings,” Quam said. “It’s close, there were some coupons that made it more affordable, and it’s just a fun, easy activity.”
Sienna Vanmeveren also chose to stay closer to home this summer to save money.
“It’s easier than traveling somewhere,” she said, adding that she would likely travel more if finances allowed.
Not every family is changing its travel habits.
Sviatlana Senchanka said her family recently completed a road trip from South Dakota to California and continues to spend time outdoors at local lakes. She said work schedules determine when her family travels more than travel costs.
For Budahl Avery, however, the value of community events extends beyond economics.
“What keeps families coming back?” she said. “Tradition. Joy. Making memories.”
Whether families travel across the country or simply across town, organizers and visitors alike say a memorable summer doesn’t always require going far from home.
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, subscribe for free and donate at sdnewswatch.org. Amina Aidarkhanova received the 2026 Jeffrey B. Nelson Investigative Journalism Endowed Internship and the Chuck Raasch and Sandy Johnson Scholarship from the SDSU Foundation. Contact: amina.aidarkhanova@sdnewswatch.org.
South Dakota
South Dakota governor’s office reports helping with over 800 deportations as feds deliver funding
South Dakota troopers have assisted in more than 204 immigration-related arrests, and state National Guard soldiers have helped process 807 deportations as the state continues to expand its partnership with federal immigration authorities.
The update came as Gov. Larry Rhoden announced that President Donald Trump’s administration has provided $150,418 to the state to recoup the costs associated with the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under the terms of an agreement signed in the spring of 2025, state troopers are authorized to carry out some federal immigration enforcement duties.
The money will go toward payroll, and specialized equipment and technology for the Highway Patrol’s enforcement work. The state expects additional funding as operations continue, according to a news release from Rhoden’s office.
In May, Rhoden issued a press release saying the federal government had committed to reimbursing the state $165,000. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to a question about the total cost of immigration-related enforcement for the state patrol.
Rhoden’s immigration enforcement push, which also loops in the state Department of Corrections and the South Dakota National Guard, is part of a law enforcement undertaking dubbed “Operation Prairie Thunder.” It features periodic saturation patrols by state troopers, 14 of which have taken place in 11 cities across South Dakota since last July. Initial operations focused on Sioux Falls.
“Our partnership with ICE has delivered strong results, and I look forward to continuing to partner with the Trump Administration as we work to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free,” Rhoden said in the press release.
The governor’s office said 40 Highway Patrol troopers are participating in the program. That’s more than double the number trained in mid-May,
when Rhoden announced plans
to fold more troopers into the program.
The 204 trooper-assisted apprehensions of people who reportedly lacked legal status is a jump from May, when
the state said Highway Patrol
reported 150 arrests.
The Corrections Department, meanwhile, has paroled 25 people into ICE custody for deportation. Four more people incarcerated by the state were approved for release into federal custody by the parole board in June, Rhoden’s office said, and the board will consider four more cases in July.
Each person released from state custody saves the state an average of $34,000 per year, Rhoden’s office said.
Seven South Dakota National Guard soldiers have also remained deployed in Sioux Falls and Rapid City since the fall to help ICE process deportations. National Guard-assisted deportation processing starting in May 2025
rose from 664 through mid-May
to 807 as of Tuesday.
The state Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to a request for the total number of people deported from South Dakota since the state began coordinating with ICE.
Some of the people whose ICE deportations were aided by the state National Guard may not have been living in South Dakota, Rhoden spokesperson Josie Harms told Searchlight, as they could’ve been apprehended while traveling through the state.
ICE did not respond to a request for comment on the total number of people deported from South Dakota since Trump took office.
— This story was originally published on southdakotasearchlight.com.
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