
The South Dakota Coyotes compete in NCAA Division I athletics. USD's conference affiliations include the Summit League for many sports and the Missouri Valley Football Conference for football.
Varsity offerings include football, basketball, cross-country, track and field, swimming and diving, soccer, softball, volleyball, and other sports. A place on a varsity roster involves recruiting and team selection; it is different from joining recreational sports. Students who want to participate without competing for a varsity team can look to campus recreation, fitness activities, and any intramural or club opportunities available in the current term. Athletic financial aid, where offered, has its own eligibility and recruiting rules.
USD offers recognized student organizations as another way to participate in campus life. Student government, academic and professional groups, cultural organizations, service activities, and performing arts groups serve different interests and levels of commitment.
Examples of visible student-led activities include the campus newspaper, student radio, and student television. Theater, choral ensembles, and the marching band provide additional opportunities to participate in productions or performances, though auditions or course enrollment may apply. Because organization activity can change from year to year, an up-to-date campus organization directory is more useful than an older list when choosing a group to join.
USD enrolled 10,619 students in the reported institutional figures, making it more than a small residential undergraduate college. Its population includes first-year students, transfer entrants, graduate students, and professional students.
The reported incoming first-time undergraduate group numbered 1,418, and 317 transfer students entered as degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates. Among the first-time entrants, 907 were women and 511 were men. Geographic figures indicate that about 52% of students were South Dakota residents, while students from other states and countries also attended. These categories describe enrollment, not the experience of any individual student.
Students across a broad age range are enrolled, including learners older than the traditional college-age population. That matters when assessing fit: an undergraduate may encounter classmates with different educational and work histories, while daily schedules and campus participation will vary substantially by program and enrollment status.
Student life at USD combines a main campus in a small city with a student body that is not entirely residential. Reported housing figures place 37% of students on campus and 62% among commuters, so involvement need not depend on living in a residence hall.
First-year programming, student activities, performances, campus recreation, and shared spaces give students ways to connect outside class. Commuters may find it especially useful to plan around meetings and events between classes; residential students have more immediate access to evening activities. Academic support and wellness resources are also part of the everyday experience, although the services a student uses will depend on their needs and where their program is based.
The I.D. Weeks Library is USD's principal academic library. Students can use library study space, research collections, and assistance with finding and evaluating sources; specialized library resources also support professional study, including law and health sciences.
USD reports three campus libraries, and students can reserve study rooms. Library services may include access to electronic journals and databases and ways to obtain material beyond the university's own collections. Remote learners should check how authentication, electronic access, research help, and borrowed materials work for their location. Students who need late-night space should check current building hours rather than assume that library study areas operate around the clock.
Total enrollment
10619Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
1034Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
391 full time, 315 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Indoor track
Data last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.