South Dakota State University is a land-grant institution, approved by the Territorial Legislature on Feb. 21, 1881; the university was founded initially as an "Agriculture College for the Territory of Dakota." By July 1, 1964, the Legislature changed the name of the college to South Dakota State University. According to the SDSU Office of the President, the university's current enrollment, as of February 2011, is 12,816 students. The university offers degrees in more than 65 majors.
The University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, South Dakota. Founded in 1862, USD is the state's oldest university. Although it is the oldest institution, it is not the largest. Total enrollment for fall 2010 was 10,151 students. The university offers more than 130 undergraduate majors and 82 percent of freshmen live on campus. Some of the top majors include nursing, business, contemporary media and political science.
Accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Black Hills State University was founded in 1883 on the vision of scholarship, student-centeredness and educational excellence. The university began as Dakota Territorial Normal School and offered four-year degrees in 1922. Today, BHSU offers more than 72 degree programs. Full-time enrollment for fall 2010 increased by 16 percent to 4,722 students, the largest increase in approximately 40 years of BHSU history.
Dakota State University is located in Madison, South Dakota. Founded in 1881 as the "first teacher education institution in the Dakota territory," Dakota State University serves a total student population of 2,800 and offers more than 40 majors. Its K-12 and secondary education curriculum prepares graduating students for careers in biology, business and mathematics education. The university is in the process of building a Health Information Technology Extension Center to provide a secure environment for health care providers who exchange medical records electronically.
Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota; the state Legislature founded NSU in 1901. The original curriculum centered on industrial education and teacher preparation. Today, the institution offers a more interdisciplinary curriculum with more than 38 majors and eight pre-professional programs. Northern State University serves approximately 2,200 students each year and it also offers two-year associate degree programs. Students at NSU can take classes from four departments under the business major.