South Dakota State University is a public university located in South Dakota. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its colleges namely college of agriculture, food and environmental sciences, college of arts, humanities and social sciences and other graduate colleges. The University offers programs in various domains and areas like arts, biology, business administration, chemistry, communications, criminal history and a lot more among others. The South Dakota State University also offers online programs and professional degrees.
The university offers programs through its colleges for graduate and undergraduate programs.
- SDSU is a highly competitive school to get in and applicants should have an excellent past academic record.
- Among the applicants who score among the top 38 percentile qualify for the admission.
- Last year out of 70,048 applications received, only 23,905 were selected. This makes the acceptance rate of the university to be 34%.
- The university accepts TOEFL, PTE and IELTS as the English proficiency requirement.
- The student to faculty ratio is 17:1.
- The average tuition fee for an academic year is seen to be as USD 25,788 for undergraduate students.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Online |
| Application Fee | USD 20 |
| Type | Public |
| Total Enrolment | 23,905 |
| Academic Calendar | Semester |
| Intake Seasons | Fall/ spring / summer |
| English Proficiency Test | TOEFL/ IELTS |
| Contact Details for International Students | sdsu.intlstud@sdstate.edu Telephone number:605-688-4122 |
South Dakota State University Admission Deadlines
SDSU admits selected applicants for their Fall and Spring semester every year. All international undergraduate applicants who wish to apply at the university should look into the following details:
| Term/ Semester | Deadlines |
| Fall (August) | June 15 |
| Spring (January) | November 15 |
International Graduate Applicants who wish to apply at the university should look into the following deadlines:
| Term/Semester | Deadlines |
| Fall (August) | April 15 |
| Spring (January) | October 15 |
South Dakota State University International Students Admissions
South Dakota State University wholeheartedly invites international students from all around the globe to the university. It offers international students with programs from various domains and disciplines through its graduate and under graduate colleges. The university also provides professional degrees to international students.
The university provides undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and online programs to international students. Professional programs are also available. International students are required to follow the same admission procedure as domestic applicants. All the test scores required are to be sent directly to South Dakota State University.
Where to apply: Students can apply via the online portal of the university.
Application fee: USD 20 non refundable (for undergraduate admissions)
USD 35 non refundable (for graduate admissions)
Admission Requirements for International Applicants
Apart from the program-specific requirements for admission, international students are supposed to submit some additional documents as follows:
- Complete application form
- Official evaluated transcripts by national association of credential evaluation services
- Financial proof
- English language proficiency proof- TOEFL/ IELTS/ Pearson
- Financial affidavit
- Recommendations
- Scores of standardized Exams to study in the USA
- Immunization records
English language proficiency test scores
International students who are non-native English speakers need to provide the university with English proficiency scores of TOEFL/ IELTS.
| English Proficiency Exams | Minimum Required Scores |
|---|---|
| TOEFL-iBT | 61 and above |
| TOEFL-pBT | 500 and above |
| IELTS | 5.5 or above |
| Pearson test of English | Not accepted |
| Graduate programs | |
| TOEFL-iBT | 71 and above |
| IELTS | 5.5 and above |
| PTE A | 43 and above |
Each graduate program/ degree has its own set English proficiency test score.
Visa Process for International Applicants
International students applying at the university need to apply for an F-1 student visa to study in the USA. Students need to send their acceptance to the offer letter received from the university. The university issues I-20 based on the DHS regulations and also maintain required records on students with an F-1 visa to study in the USA.
International applicants will need these documents for the visa process:
- SEVIS fee receipt
- Form I-20
- Admission letter
- Financial documents to show the ability to afford expenses for a year of study at Nova South Eastern University.
- Copy of valid passport
- Two passport size photographs
- Visa application fee
Students can contact the US Embassy in their home country to know the documents that would be required for the visa application and the procedure involved in getting a visa. Applicants would need to schedule a visa interview once the documents have been submitted. Visa applicants must confirm that all the mentioned details in the visa application are correct.
South Dakota State University Undergraduate Admissions
South Dakota State University offers programs in various disciplines through its various colleges for only undergraduate students namely college of agriculture, food and environmental sciences, college of arts, humanities and social sciences, college of natural sciences, college of nursing, college of pharmacy and allied health professionals, college of education and human sciences.
International students can apply for programs offered by these colleges at the South Dakota State University. Programs offered to international students also include non-credit studies and professional programs, online programs are also available for international students.
International students are required to follow the same admission procedure as domestic applicants. All the test scores required are to be sent directly to the South Dakota State University.
Where to apply: Students can apply via the online portal.
Application fee: USD 20 non refundable
Admission Requirements: The admission requirements include:
- Complete Application form
- GPA equivalent of 2.0 or above
- Evaluated official academic transcripts
- Standardized test scores(optional)
- English language proficiency proof- TOEFL/ IELTS
- Bank statement/ Financial proof
- Other programs/course-specific supplementary material
- Immunisation reports
- ACT/SAT scores
Applicants should have an average academic record of atleast B- grade, and having a SAT score is highly recommended for international applicants.
South Dakota State University Graduate Admissions
The South Dakota State University offers several graduate courses in various disciplines through its graduate school. The university also offers graduate student professional development programs.
Students are offered post-graduate certificate programs, Master programs, and Doctoral programs. Professional programs are also available for international students. There are a wide variety of disciplines to choose from for international students. Students are supposed to send their documents to the university address for review.
Where to Apply: Students can apply via online portal.
Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for graduate programs include:
- Complete graduate Application form
- Evaluated official transcripts by national association of credential evaluation services or association of international credential evaluators.
- English proficiency requirements
- Standardized test scores (optional)
- Proof of Finance
- Program-specific requirements
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- Proof of immunity
- Resume/ curriculum vitae
- GRE
- Goal statement
The table below shows some of the popular courses and specific admission requirements for the same:
| Program | Deadline | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| M.Arch. Architecture | Fall- april 15 Spring- October 15 |
GRE- not required TOEFL-pBT- 575 iBT- 71 IELTS-5.5 |
| M.S. Civil Engineering | Fall- april 15 Spring- October 15 |
GRE- not required TOEFL-pBT- 575 iBT- 71 IELTS-5.5 |
| M.S. Food Science | Fall- april 15 Spring- October 15 |
GRE- not required TOEFL-pBT- 575 iBT- 79 to 80 IELTS-5.5 2 letters of reference Personal statement |
| M.S. Mathematics | Fall- april 15 Spring- October 15 |
GRE- not required TOEFL-pBT- 575 iBT- 90 to 91 IELTS-5.5 letters of recommendation |
| M.M.C Mass Communication | Fall- april 15 Spring- October 15 |
GRE- not required TOEFL-pBT- 550 iBT- 79 to 80 IELTS-6.5 |
With numerous colleges available and various disciplines to choose from, the South Dakota State University offers everything that an international student can ask for. International students are recommended to send across their admission documents as early as 4 months of the deadlines. Also, international applicants should have excellent personal statements and recommendation letters. Applicants can contact the international student office anytime in the official hours or can even mail them if any query persists. The university also takes notice of excellent backgrounds, personal statements and letters of reference for internships.
FAQs
Ques. Are you processing applications normally?
Ans. Yes. All admissions functions except recruitment events and campus visits are happening as normal.
Ques. Will there be an application deadline extension?
Ans. SDSU does not have an application deadline, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the summer leading up to the fall semester.
Ques. Will the pandemic affect the timing of admission notification?
Ans. No. This does not delay our timelines for notifying students about admission to SDSU, scholarships, or other admission related processes.
Ques. What options are available if the financial situation of myself or my family, and my ability to pay for college, has been impacted negatively by the Covid-19 Pandemic?
Ans. If a student or a family experiences significant changes in financial circumstances due to loss of income or medical expenses, the SDSU Financial Aid Office can make changes to the FAFSA to more accurately reflect the family’s ability to pay for college on a case-by-case basis. If your financial situation changes significantly, please contact the SDSU Financial Aid Office at SDSU.FinAid@sdstate.edu or 605-688-4695.
Ques. Do I have to commit to SDSU or provide a deposit for enrollment?
Ans. No, SDSU does not require new students to pay an enrolment deposit. Additionally, no commitment is required by any specific date. Reach out to us if we can support you in any way through your decision process.
Ques. Will extensions be allowed for final transcripts?
Ans. We will be flexible and work closely with students and institutions to ensure we have the documents we need without creating additional stress. Admitted students are encouraged to turn in final transcripts quickly after the completion of their final semester, but do have flexibility to turn in final transcripts throughout the summer or at the start of the fall semester. If you are having trouble retrieving final transcripts due to school closures or for other reasons, reach out to SDSU Admissions Office to discuss options.
Ques. My current school has closed down. Will you accept an unofficial transcript?
Ans. We will accept unofficial transcripts if a student’s ability to get an official transcript is impacted by school closures or other pandemic related issues.
Ques. If I’m not able to attend SDSU this fall, can I defer my admission?
Ans. Admissions deferrals are possible for International Students if their arrival is impacted. Please connect with the SDSU International Office to visit individual situations. Phone: 605-688-4122 Email: SDSU.intlstud@sdstate.edu.
Ques. When will I receive my I-20?
Ans. Our admissions work continues and we don’t anticipate delays in issuing I-20s.
Ques. With TOEFL and IELTS closing their test centres, how can I submit an English proficiency test score?
Ans. Our International Admissions team has reviewed several additional testing options that are available online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.sdstate.edu/international-affairs/international-proficiency-test-list-and-waiver-countries for additional resources.
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