PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s public university system continues its upward momentum in student enrollment. This marks the fourth consecutive year of targeted system growth and the second successive year with more than 36,000 students – a notable benchmark in the face of national challenges in higher education.
More encouraging, a greater number of South Dakota high school graduates are choosing to pursue higher education within the state than in years past. The number of South Dakota students enrolled across the six public universities rose to 22,410, up more than 1,600 students since Fall 2021. This trend is a strong indicator of confidence in the state’s public higher education system.
“South Dakota families are showing continued trust in our public universities, a testament to the quality of education and strong return on investment provided at our institutions, and we’re proud to see more of our high school graduates staying in state to pursue their degrees,” said Nathan Lukkes, South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director. “We know from long-term data that more than 70% of resident graduates stay in South Dakota after earning their degrees, contributing directly to our state’s economy and workforce.”
The 2025 Fall Semester saw year-over-year increases in full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment and student credit hours compared to the historically strong Fall 2024 semester, indicating that students are enrolling in more courses and progressing toward degree completion at a steady pace. The total system-wide headcount for Fall 2025 remained at 36,091, a student count that broke numerous records across the system in 2024.
While annual percentage growth was flat this year compared to the previous 5% surge seen in 2024, system officials note that the year-over-year stability is positive given the already strong base of last fall’s enrollment.
“Our South Dakota public universities have demonstrated resilience and relevance in a changing higher education landscape, and I am proud of the work our campuses have done to keep the needs of our students and state at the forefront,” Lukkes added. “Any increases on top of already high performance are signs of sustained success – especially when paired with increased resident enrollment, strong return on investment, and workforce retention.”