Awards and Rankings

Recent Awards
View of SDSU Campus.
Ranked No. 5 in Best Value Colleges for International Students

This ranking is out of 1,204 colleges in the U.S. that offer four-year degrees. South Dakota State is in the top 1% for international students seeking quality and affordability in U.S. education.
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SDSU recognized as a Tree Campus USA
SDSU has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA annually since 2009.
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Online Nursing ranked 1st in the state (EduMed)
Ranked 45th nationally
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Became the nation's ninth Purple Heart Campus
The state's first Purple Heart Campus
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Brookings scores 100 on equity index for 6th straight year
Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index
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Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns in the US
Ranked No. 2 (cnbc.com, 2024)
Top Ranked Programs
  • – ranked No. 2
  • – ranked No. 3
Best Online Master's Programs
  • – ranked No. 9
  • – ranked No. 21
  • – ranked No. 31
  • – ranked No. 41
  • – ranked No. 41

Most Affordable

  • – ranked No. 39
Best Online Bachelor's
  • – ranked No. 8
  • – ranked No. 35
  • – ranked No. 37

Most Affordable

  • – ranked No. 42