South Dakota State University was founded in 1881 as a land-grant university has been always committed to the academic and professional advancement of all the citizens of the state. At first University was named as Dakota Agriculture College, later in 1914 it changed its name to South Dakota State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts.

As South Dakota’s comprehensive institution it is devoted to provide exceptional academic, professional, co-curricular, and recreational programs for students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. SDSU offers a wide range of academic options so students of every interest find their place here. Pharmacy program, engineering programs, and teacher education program have job placement rates of almost 100 percent and Honors College provides opportunities for highly motivated students.

South Dakota State University is organized into eight colleges: Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Arts and Science, Education and Counseling, Family and Consumer Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, and General Studies and Outreach Programming. SDSU has also a special focus on academic programs in engineering, nursing, pharmacy, agriculture and the liberal arts. SDSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents. There exist more than 200 majors, minors and other programs students are offered in South Dakota State University.


SDSU awards associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s and doctoral degrees. South Dakota State University is known for excellent engineering programs and a very competitive nursing program. SDSU also provides wide range of programs that can be completed online.