Overall enrollment in the state university system remains flat. While many of South Dakota’s individual public universities are seeing growth this semester, the overall state enrollment is the exact same from 2024 at 36,091 students.
This is the fifth time in the past decade the university system has over 36,000 students.
Dakota State University is reporting a record enrollment this year, and University of South Dakota boasts its second-highest headcount in history.
The South Dakota Board of Regents, the body that governs the public university system, said overall flat growth is still positive given 2024 was the highest enrollment since 2018.
Despite seeing increases in overall enrollment, the board said it’s seeing upticks for in-state residents.
The 22,410 students enrolled in public universities this year who graduated from state high schools are a 1,600-person increase from Fall 2021.
The Board of Regents said more than 70% of resident graduates go on to stay in the state after earning a degree, which contributes towards South Dakota’s economy and workforce.
