University of South Dakota

Higher Educationusd.edu

The University of South Dakota is a public research university founded in 1862, serving undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across 200+ programs through its Vermillion and Sioux Falls campuses plus online delivery, anchored by the AACSB-accredited Beacom School of Business and the new Discovery District biotech research campus.

Company typePrivate
Founded1862
HeadquartersVermillion, United States
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What University of South Dakota does

The University of South Dakota (USD) is a public research university founded in 1862 in Vermillion, South Dakota, operating as the flagship institution of the South Dakota Board of Regents system. It serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across more than 200 academic programs through a main Vermillion campus, a Sioux Falls campus focused on professional pathways, and fully online delivery, drawing 1,001-5,000 employees. Its product portfolio centers on academic degrees (including the Princeton Review No. 19-ranked Online MBA and AACSB-accredited Beacom School of Business programs since 1949), graduate certificates (AI for Business Analytics, approved December 2023), and student-centered initiatives such as Coyote Business Consulting (launched 2020). Beyond academic delivery, USD operates an 80-acre Discovery District biotech and life sciences research campus in Sioux Falls (first building opened 2025), a Center for Digital Accessibility launched fall 2025, and NCAA Division I athletics competing in the Summit League and Missouri Valley Football Conference.

USD's revenue model is driven primarily by tuition and fees, with graduate rates ranging from $247.50 per credit hour for graduate assistants (resident) up to $746.70 per credit hour for non-resident students, supplemented by discipline-specific fees such as the $55.50/credit hour Business School fee and $108.70/credit hour Allied Health fee. Secondary revenue streams include federal and state research grants and contracts (with the Discovery District positioning USD in South Dakota's biotech buildout), athletics-generated income via ESPN media rights and conference distributions, and auxiliary services. The customer base is broadly distributed across undergraduate students, graduate and professional students, Sioux Falls-area working professionals, and — through the Discovery District and Center for Digital Accessibility — external biotech tenants, K-12 schools, and state and local government entities. Distribution spans direct admissions (Fast Track Direct Admission with SD public high schools), transfer articulation, dual credit, graduate assistantships, and online self-serve channels.

University of South Dakota firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of South Dakota
Legal name: University of South Dakota
Website: https://usd.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1862
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: The University of South Dakota is a public research university founded in 1862, serving undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across 200+ programs through its Vermillion and Sioux Falls campuses plus online delivery, anchored by the AACSB-accredited Beacom School of Business and the new Discovery District biotech research campus.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of South Dakota industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
akta.pro secondary industry: Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

Keywords

Higher education
Academic degree programs
Graduate business education
Biotech research
NCAA athletics

Where University of South Dakota is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Vermillion
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

University of South Dakota business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with varying rates for resident, non-resident, online, and graduate assistant categories. Includes discipline-specific fees for programs such as business, health sciences, and fine arts.
Research Grants and Contracts: Federal and state sponsored research programs, grants for scientific research, and biotechnology/life sciences development through Discovery District.
Athletics Programs: NCAA Division I athletics programs generating revenue through ticket sales, media rights (ESPN broadcasts), and conference distributions from the Summit League and Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Graduate Resident/SD Advantage: $415.95 per credit hour
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Graduate Non-Resident: $746.70 per credit hour
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Graduate Online: $495.70 per credit hour
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Graduate Assistant Resident: $247.50 per credit hour
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Active Duty Military: $553.25 per credit hour
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Business School Discipline Fee: $55.50 per credit hour
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Health Sciences Fees: $108.70 per credit hour

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

University of South Dakota product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The University of South Dakota is the flagship public research university of South Dakota, offering 200+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs (including MBA, law, and medicine) across its Vermillion and Sioux Falls campuses, NCAA Division I athletics, and the 80-acre USD Discovery District biotech research park. It also operates specialized initiatives such as Coyote Business Consulting, the Center for Digital Accessibility, and the BEAM-SD pediatric behavioral health program.

Product overview

The University of South Dakota is an educational institution offering academic programs and university services rather than a commercial software product. Its primary product portfolio includes graduate degree programs (MBA with AI specialization, various MBA tracks), professional certificates (AI for Business Analytics), and student-centered initiatives (Coyote Business Consulting). Supporting services include the Center for Digital Accessibility for ADA compliance, the USD Discovery District biotech research campus, and the BEAM-SD pediatric mental health initiative. The Beacom School of Business (accredited by AACSB since 1949) is USD's flagship business school offering these programs, ranked 19th nationally for its online MBA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Beacom School of Business: The business school at USD focused on AI and data-driven workforce preparation
Coyote Business Consulting

Products and services

Master of Business Administration (MBA) USD's flagship graduate business degree emphasizing analytical and critical thinking skills, evaluation of alternative courses of action, understanding of business environment impact, and application of ethical principles. Ranked 19th in the nation for online MBA by Princeton Review.
AI for Business Analytics Graduate Certificate Graduate certificate program that prepares students to proficiently grasp and implement AI and cognitive technologies to tackle diverse business challenges. Includes courses on data mining and business AI applications.
MBA with Artificial Intelligence for Business Analytics Specialization Master of Business Administration with specialization in AI for business analytics that delves into artificial intelligence and business analytics, focusing on systems and solutions that replicate human-like reasoning through computer processes.
Coyote Business Consulting Student-centered initiative at USD Beacom School of Business that provides free consulting services to businesses across South Dakota. The 10-12 week project-based program gives students real-world experience while helping businesses solve critical problems.
Center for Digital Accessibility Launched in fall 2025 to help South Dakota organizations comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Provides qualified digital accessibility services to K-12 schools, state agencies, local government offices, and Board of Regents institutions.
USD Discovery District 80-acre biotech and life science research campus in Sioux Falls with first building opened in 2025. Part of nearly 30 years of planning and development, positioned to expand South Dakota's biotech and life science research industry with projections of 2,800 new jobs over 25 years.
BEAM-SD Initiative Pediatric behavioral and mental health support initiative by USD Center for Disabilities providing no-cost behavioral health consultations, screening tools, treatment resources, and educational materials to healthcare providers serving rural South Dakota families.
BBA in Agribusiness Leadership Bachelor of Business Administration in agribusiness leadership combining business, agribusiness, leadership and AI-informed business analytics classes.

Quantifiable outcome

Online MBA ranked No. 19 nationally by Princeton Review 2024, in top 25 for over 10 years
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use University of South Dakota

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

University of South Dakota technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

University of South Dakota partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Missouri Valley Football ConferencecoreOthers · 31 October 2026USD football conference with rivalry game vs. South Dakota State selected for national ESPN broadcast for third consecutive year (October 31, 2026).
Summit LeaguecoreOthers · 9 October 2026USD athletics conference membership including women's basketball and softball teams competing for conference championships. Softball won 2026 Summit League championship for first-ever NCAA tournament berth.
South Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between South Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and USD Center for Disabilities' BEAM-SD initiative to expand pediatric behavioral and mental health support for children and families in rural and frontier communities through no-cost consultations, screening tools, and educational materials.
OmegaQuant LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutritional analytics company as one of three initial tenants in USD Discovery District biotech research campus. Discovery District represents nearly 30 years of planning and development aimed at expanding South Dakota's biotech and life science research industry.
South Dakota Board of RegentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState governing body that approved USD's graduate certificate in artificial intelligence for business analytics (December 2023), MBA specialization in AI, and BBA in agribusiness leadership (April 2024). Sets tuition rates and policies.
South Dakota Public UniversitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of six public universities in South Dakota; USD and South Dakota State University experienced largest international student declines while South Dakota Mines saw gains. Collaborative efforts on statewide higher education initiatives.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

University of South Dakota competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

University of Wyoming: Public flagship research university in a similarly low-population state with comparable program breadth and a rural geographic footprint. Both face similar structural challenges around R&D scale and out-of-state recruitment.
North Dakota State University: Land-grant public research university in the neighboring state with comparable size, comprehensive program offerings, and NCAA Division I athletics. Both compete for similar regional student demographics and share comparable institutional positioning in the upper Midwest.
South Dakota State University: The other flagship public research university in the South Dakota Board of Regents system and USD's primary intrastate rival. Both compete for South Dakota residents, share state appropriations, and are compared head-to-head in athletics, R&D output, and national rankings.
University of North Dakota: Public research university with comparable size, program breadth, and rural Midwestern footprint. Both serve similar state-flagship missions with professional degrees in medicine, law, and engineering, and compete for regional students and federal research dollars.

Regional players

Northern State University: Public university within the South Dakota Board of Regents system, smaller and more teaching-focused than USD. Shares the same governing structure and state appropriations dynamics but offers fewer graduate and research-intensive programs.
Dakota State University: Public technology-focused university in Madison, South Dakota, operating under the same Board of Regents as USD. Smaller scale and specialization in cyber and technology programs differentiates it, but it competes for state funding and South Dakota students.
South Dakota Mines: STEM-focused public university within the South Dakota Board of Regents system. Operates in the same governing structure as USD and shares state funding dynamics, but specializes in engineering and hard sciences rather than comprehensive offerings.
Augustana University: Private liberal arts university in Sioux Falls competing with USD's Sioux Falls campus for graduate and professional students in the same metro market, particularly in business and health sciences programs.
Black Hills State University: Public university within the South Dakota Board of Regents system with smaller scale and narrower program offerings. Operates within the same governance and tuition structure as USD but in a different geographic region of the state.

Broad incumbents

University of Nebraska: Larger Big Ten public research university with comparable comprehensive offerings including law, medicine, and business. Operates as a broader regional incumbent that competes with USD for out-of-state Midwestern students and federally funded research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of South Dakota compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance6 records

University of South Dakota financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of South Dakota leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

University of South Dakota funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

University of South Dakota M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of South Dakota

What does University of South Dakota do?

Is University of South Dakota a public or private company?

University of South Dakota is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was University of South Dakota founded?

University of South Dakota was founded in 1862. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is University of South Dakota based?

University of South Dakota is headquartered in Vermillion, United States, in the North America region.

How does University of South Dakota make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Contracts and athletics Programs.

Who are University of South Dakota's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are University of Wyoming, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University and University of North Dakota. Regional players are Northern State University, Dakota State University, South Dakota Mines, Augustana University and Black Hills State University. University of Nebraska is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does University of South Dakota have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of South Dakota.

What industry is University of South Dakota in?

University of South Dakota's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.