University of South Dakota

Welcome to the University of South Dakota

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  determines eligibility for veteran and dependant benefits. Your military staus will determine the benefit programs for which you may be eligible.

Veterans

(Honorable Discharge from Active Duty Service)

• Apply for GI BILL  and submit the Student Info Sheet Online Form
• Order JST (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard) transcript to receive credit for military training
• Order CCAF (Air Force only) transcript to receivecredit for military training
• Provide a copy of DD Form 214 to USD Veterans Services
• Benefits for which you may be eligible:
• • If you contributed to the MGIB-AD ($1200), and it has been less than 10 years since you left service, you can apply for Chapter 30 GI Bill
  • If you served after 9/11, you may be eligible for Chapter 33 GI Bill benefits
  • If you have a VA-rated Service Connected disability (20% or more) you may be eligible for VA Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) 
  • If you have exhausted all of your GI Bill, or are no longer eligible, you may be eligible for free tuition for undergraduate classes from the State of South Dakota. You must still pay course/school fees. Apply by submitting the SDDVA Form E11  

Active Duty 

• Benefits may include Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) eligiblity.
• Check for GI Bill eligibility  (usually in the form of "Top-Up" to cover costs after FTA is applied)
  Contact your Education Services Office (ESO). GI Bill can be used without FTA; restrictions apply (Contact ESO) 
• When using the GI Bill, complete and submit the Student Info Sheet Online Form 
  NOTE: There are specific rules for active duty students when using the GI Bill. Contact your ESO.
• Order JST (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard) transcript to receive credit for military training
• Order CCAF (Air Force only) transcript to receive credit for military training
• You, and your dependents, may be eligible for instate tuition rates if stationed in, or living in, South Dakota while on Active Duty. If outh Dakota is your home of record, you may receive instate tuition rates when you return to SD after service.  

National Guard 

• Apply for GIBILL  and submit the Student Info Sheet Online Form
• Benefits may include  Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) eligibilty.
• Members  of the South Dakota National Guard (Army or Air Force),  may be eligible for 50% tuition reduction. Contact your unit for authorization.
• Order JST (Army) transcript to receive credit for military training
• Order CCAF (Air Force only) transcript to receive credit for military training
•  If you have never been deployed, you may be eligible for Chapter 1606 GI Bill.  

Reserve 

• Apply for GIBILL and submit the Student Info Sheet Online Form
• May be eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
• Order JST (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard) transcript to receive credit for military training 
• Order CCAF (Air Force only) transcript to receive credit for military training
• If you have never been deployed, you may be eligible for Chapter 1606 GI Bill.  

Dependent of Veteran or Current Service Member

(Spouse or Child)

• Apply for Chapter 33 GI Bill if veteran has transferred their entitlements to you
  NOTE: If spouse is currently on active duty, you may not be eligible for the monthly housing allowance.
• Apply for Chapter 35 GI Bill if veteran had/has permanent and total  VA service-connected disability.
• Benifits may include eligibility for instate residency tuition rates if service member is currently on active duty and stationed/living in South Dakota.
• Benefits may include eligibility for special tuition rates from the State of South Dakota: Military spouses and children
• Spouses may be eligible for tuition assistance: Military Spouses and Children   

USD Admissions

Visit the USD Military Admissions page  for further information on applying and enrolling at the University of South Dakota.