Accreditation & Outcomes
USD is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools to offer baccalaureate, masters, specialist and doctoral programs. The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Internship Placement
Our students interned in the following organizations in 2025-2026:
- American Heart Association
- City of North Sioux City and North Sioux City Economic Development Corporation
- City of Vermillion
- Dean's Office in the College of Arts & Sciences at USD
- Sesdac
- South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations
- Vermillion Wine & Liquor
- University of South Dakota: Gallagher International Center
Employment Placement
Employment by sector of our most recent M.P.A. graduates.
| Category | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National or central government in the same country as the program | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| State, provincial or regional government in the same country as the program | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| City, County, or other local government in the same country as the program | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nonprofit domestic-oriented | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Nonprofit/NGOs internationally-oriented | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Private Sector - Research/Consulting | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Private Sector but not research/ consulting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Obtaining further education | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Military Service | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unemployed (not seeking employment) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unemployed (seeking employment) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Status Unknown | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Graduation Profile
Completion rates for the class five years prior to the current annual report year.
| Category | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Students Entering Program | 6 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 4 |
| Number of Students Graduating Within 2 Years (Normal Progress) | 6 | 4 | 8 | 7 | N/A |
| Number of Students Graduating Within 3 Years | 6 | 5 | 8 | N/A | N/A |
| Number of Students Graduating Within 4 Years | 6 | 5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Persisting to Graduation | 6 | 5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
