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.”
(SOUTH DAKOTA SEARCHLIGHT) – Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate.
That doesn’t bode well for the party ahead of November, said Michael Card, professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Dakota.
“It doesn’t put them in a position to actually put forward their ideological policy preferences and have much of a success at getting those enacted,” Card said.
In the state Senate alone, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 22 seats, which is nearly two-thirds of the chamber. In the House, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 38 seats, which is 54% of the chamber.
There is only one Democratic legislative primary in the state: a state Senate race in District 26, which includes the Rosebud Reservation.
There are no statewide Democratic primaries, after announced candidates for governor and U.S. House dropped out or failed to gather enough petition signatures to make the ballot, leaving one Democrat in each of those races.
Statewide candidates will have less name recognition than Republican candidates ahead of the general election, since they didn’t have primaries, Card said. In the Legislature, Card said Democrats “are guaranteeing they won’t get a majority.”
In contrast, Republicans have primary races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Five legislative districts do not have Republican primaries, but do have Republican candidates. There is a Republican candidate running for every legislative seat, except for one House seat in District 27, which includes the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Card said there are several factors leading to poor candidate turnout among Democrats, including a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.
“A lack of winning makes fewer people willing to take a chance on running for office,” Card said. “Why run if I think I’m going to lose?”
Democrats haven’t held a statewide office since 2015, and they haven’t held a majority of either legislative chamber since 1994.
Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said the organization worked “really, really hard” to convince Democrats to run for office.
“But you can’t force people to run for office,” said Zweifel, of Sioux Falls, who’s running for a legislative seat himself in District 12.
He’s heard the open seats called a “failure.” But he disagrees, choosing to focus on the Democrats who did step forward.
“We’re running quality, good candidates in those races,” Zweifel said.
The South Dakota Democratic Party hopes to build on legislative successes, such as a new law from Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, that commits state funding to cover the family portion of reduced-price school meals.
“That specifically is a return on investment for our donors, and it shows that Democrats are doing good things for the people of South Dakota,” Zweifel said.
Wittman’s success helped inspire Democratic District 13 House of Representatives candidate Ali Rae Horsted, of Sioux Falls, to take a second run at the Legislature. Horsted ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against Sen. Sue Peterson in 2024, garnering 42% of the vote.
Horsted plans to build on that success and the name recognition she already has in the district. She hopes she’ll have “better odds” in this election, since there are two House seats for every district.
Horsted said it would better serve South Dakota if the state had a more balanced Legislature. While the latest Legislature was 92% Republican, 52% of voters in South Dakota are Republican. South Dakota has the lowest percentage of Democrats, 7.6%, in the Legislature nationwide.
“I think it’s important that people have options on the ballot,” Horsted said, “and people are able to vote for candidates that represent their values and their vision for the future of South Dakota.”
Makenzie Huber is a lifelong South Dakotan who regularly reports on the intersection of politics and policy with health, education, social services and Indigenous affairs. Her work with South Dakota Searchlight earned her the title of South Dakota’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2024, and she was a 2024 finalist for the national Livingston Awards.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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From East River to West River, South Dakota communities share a common goal: creating places where people of all ages can live, work and thrive. AARP’s Domains of Livability provide a framework to help communities do just that. Through the AARP Community Challenge grant program—designed to spark quick, impactful local projects—South Dakota communities are turning big ideas into visible, people-centered improvements.
Read the South Dakota Community Challenge Grant Report, which showcases grant-funded projects across the state designed to build more livable communities.
What Are AARP’s Domains of Livability?
AARP’s approach to livable communities is rooted in eight interconnected domains that together support quality of life at every age:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings – Safe, accessible parks, streets and public buildings
- Transportation – Affordable, accessible options for getting around
- Housing – A range of choices that support independence
- Social Participation – Opportunities to connect, learn and have fun
- Respect and Social Inclusion – Communities that value people of all backgrounds and ages
- Civic Participation and Employment – Meaningful ways to engage and contribute
- Communication and Information – Clear, accessible ways to stay informed
- Community Support and Health Services – Access to services that support well-being
These domains work best when addressed together—something South Dakota communities are embracing.
Turning Vision into Action with Community Challenge Grants
AARP Community Challenge grants fund short-term, “quick-action” projects that can ignite long-term change. Across South Dakota, these grants have helped communities pilot ideas, build momentum and demonstrate what’s possible when residents put people first.
Here’s how local projects are bringing the Domains of Livability to life:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Communities have used grants to enhance parks, create pop-up public spaces, add benches and shade and install wayfinding signs. These improvements invite people to linger, gather, and enjoy shared spaces—supporting both physical activity and social connection.
- Transportation: Small, thoughtful transportation projects can make a big difference. Community Challenge grants have supported safer crossings, improved walkability and bikeability around key destinations and the planning or installation of transit amenities like shelters and seating—especially important for older adults and people with mobility challenges.
- Housing and Community Support: Some projects focus on helping residents age in place by improving access to information about home modification resources or by testing neighborhood-level solutions that connect people to services. These efforts strengthen independence and peace of mind.
- Social Participation and Inclusion: Murals, community events and creative placemaking projects funded by AARP grants have sparked community pride and social connection. By involving residents in design and implementation, these projects foster respect, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging across generations.
- Communication, Civic Participation and Opportunity: From hosting community conversations to creating new tools for sharing local information, South Dakota communities are using grants to engage residents in shaping their future. These efforts elevate local voices and encourage ongoing civic participation.
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