An overhead shot of main campus during the sunset.

Wisconsin

Discover the Cost Advantage: South Dakota vs. Wisconsin.

Expand your opportunities when you make USD your home away from home. Having the collegiate experience you've always dreamed of doesn't have to break the bank and it won't when you attend USD.

Discover Vermillion, South Dakota, home to the University of South Dakota main campus. It is here that you will experience the charm of small-town living while enjoying access to urban conveniences, all at the fraction of the cost you'd find in Wisconsin.

As a Wisconsin resident, you're eligible for in-state tuition rates at USD. This translates to significant savings, with tuition fees at USD being approximately $65,900 less per year compared to Wisconsin's flagship university, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Take a look at the '25-'26 numbers:


South Dakota
Wisconsin
Tuition & Fees*
$9,687 $12,186
Housing & Food
$10,590 $14,520
Direct Costs Total
$20,787 $26,706

*The amount listed is based on 30 credits per academic year of tuition and the general activity fee.

University of Wisconsin-Madison estimated total cost of attendance: $30,644 [source]

University of South Dakota estimated total cost of attendance: $26,015 [source]

You save: $5,919

Savings over 4 years: $23,676

 

GET TO KNOW YOUR UNIVERSITY

Here are a few things you should know about the University of South Dakota.

hear from a usd alum

Success story Chloe Fullenkamp smiling.
I am a third-generation legacy student at USD so being a Yote has always been in my blood. USD has presented so many opportunities for me not only as a student but as a human with so many chances to grow. I chose the Media and Journalism discipline because I love learning about people and their stories, and the M&J department presented so many opportunities for me. I would not have been able to succeed with Avera Group if it was not for USD.

Chloe Fullenkamp

B.A. Media & Journalism '22
Waunakee, Wisconsin

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