International Undergraduate Admissions

• Submit your completed application

Apply Online

• The USD application fee is non-refundable
• Fee must be paid before your application will be processed and must accompany your application. Credit card payment accepted at the end of the online application.

International applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

71 or higher (iBT)

8 or higher (TOEFL Essentials)

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

6.0 or higher

Duolingo English Test

105 or higher

Pearson Test of English (PTE)

48 or higher

ACT or SAT

ACT 21+ overall score OR

SAT 1070+ overall score

Advanced Placement English

(AP) 3 or higher

ELS Language Center

Successful completion of the ELS English for Academic Purposes level 112

Successful completion (equivalent of >2.6 GPA) of one of the following:

• British O Level/GCSE/IGCSE
• British AS/A Levels
• IB Certificate or Diploma
• WAEC
• High school within the United States
• English-medium high school outside the United States but accredited by a US-based accrediting organization (such as WASC or NEASC)

US College Coursework

Successful completion of a college level English composition course at an accredited U.S. institution with a grade of C or higher.

Applicants who hold a conferred degree from one of the following countries are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

USD accepts unofficial and unofficial partial transcripts for contingent admissions. Full admission is granted when all official documents are received. The deadline to receive official transcripts is 30 days before the start of classes.

Valid, unexpired passport. Copy/scan of the page(s) containing the photo, date of birth, passport number, date of expiration and signature (if any). If your passport contains a current extension stamp, also include a photocopy/scan of that page

Admission decisions are made without concern for financial ability. Federal regulations require all students to demonstrate the financial ability to pay for at least one year of academic and living expenses before the University of South Dakota can issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status (I-20). We welcome receiving your financial ability form at the time of application or after you receive an admission decision letter. For this important requirement, the University of South Dakota follows the average annual enrollment of 30 credit hours for undergraduate students plus an estimate for living costs.

International Tuition and Cost

Email [email protected] for our official financial ability form.

Most documents can be submitted electronically to [email protected]. For hard copy materials, please mail to:

Enrollment Processing Center
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390