Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of South Dakota reports a middle 50% SAT of 1145 to 1260 (enrolled, fall 2024, CDS 2024-25 4.2% of class submitted SAT). We use 1200 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1145 to 1260 (enrolled, fall 2024, CDS 2024-25 4.2% of class submitted SAT) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 19 to 25 |
| Acceptance rate | 98.8% (fall 2024, CDS 2024-25, 5,965 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Not required for admission (SD Board of Regents system-wide policy) |
| Type | Public university |
Source: USD official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
The state's flagship, in Vermillion, and home to South Dakota's only public law and medical schools; admits nearly every applicant.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota | 1145 to 1260 | 98.8% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for South Dakota Colleges.
South Dakota's main merit scholarship, the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, runs on two ACT/SAT-based eligibility tracks and pays up to $7,500 over four years; there is no separate SAT-specific university grid on top of it.
SD Opportunity Scholarship, Option 1 (score + curriculum/GPA): $1,500/year for years 1-3 and $3,000 in year 4; requires completing the state's required high school curriculum with no grade below a C and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
SD Opportunity Scholarship, Option 2 (score only, no curriculum/GPA): Same $1,500/year for years 1-3 and $3,000 in year 4, with no curriculum or GPA condition attached to initial eligibility.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our South Dakota SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | Michigan | 1100 to 1310 |
| Rowan University | New Jersey | 1100 to 1300 |
| University of Maine, Orono | Maine | 1080 to 1320 |
| Utah State University | Utah | 1090 to 1310 |
A score that is competitive at USD lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1145 to 1260. A score at or above 1260 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1145 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
USD lists its policy as: Not required for admission (SD Board of Regents system-wide policy). Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
98.8% (fall 2024, CDS 2024-25, 5,965 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for USD? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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