Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance

Tuition, fees, and all other student charges are payable in full at the times designated in the Schedule of Classes. Any student who has questions regarding the payment of tuition and fees should contact the Business Office, Room 207, Slagle Hall, in advance of registration. Students who do not pay by the established deadlines will be subject to late charges or administrative withdrawal.

Billing and Payment of Student Accounts

The University of South Dakota provides an electronic billing and payment system known as SDePay. Students can retrieve their billing statements online and make payments through Self-Service with either an electronic check or a credit card as part of SDePay.

The student’s tuition and fee bill will be available on SDePay after they are registered for classes. Students will not receive a paper billing statement in the mail. An email will be sent from SDePay to the student’s official USD email address and the authorized payers email address, announcing their billing statement is ready to be viewed and paid online. This email will be sent each time a new tuition and fee statement is generated. However, the student and authorized payer may view the current account balance at any time through SDePay. Payment is due in full by the assigned due date. The due date for the bill will appear on the most current billing statement.

The student can set up their parents or guardians as authorized payers in SDePay by logging into Self-Service. The authorized payer will receive a link in an email notification that will take them directly to SDePay, where they can safely log into the system by using the username and password assigned to them by their student. Authorized payers may view and print student’s e-bills and make electronic payments (e-check or credit card) on the student’s behalf. Authorized payers may also set up their accounts to receive emails each time a new billing statement is posted for the student.

Payment on student accounts can also be made in person at the Business Office or through the mail. The Business Office is located in Slagle Hall, Room 207 and accepts cash, check, money order, or certified check made payable to “USD.” If the payment is mailed, please include the student ID number on the bottom of the check to insure the amount is posted to the correct account.

Tuition and Fee Payment times and locations are posted to the USD Business Office website and an email will be sent to the student’s USD email account to notify you of the current semester’s procedures.

Tuition and Fees

Credit Hour Basis of Tuition Charges

All tuition charges at institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents will be on a per credit hour basis. Medical and Law school tuition will be on a semester basis. Information regarding undergraduate tuition and fees may be found at:https://www.sdbor.edu/student-information/Pages/Tuition-and-Fees.aspx

Residential Hall and Meal Plan

USD offers many room plan and meal plan options. See website links below for associated costs.

Late Charge

A late charge will be assessed on all accounts not paid by the established deadline. Students may be dismissed for nonpayment.

Special Tuition Classifications

Specific criteria and program regulations are available from Financial Aid/Registration for any of the special tuition classifications listed below. (SDBOR policy 5.5.1 and SDBOR policy 5.5.2)

On-Campus Board Approved Reduced Tuition Programs

A university may request that the Board approve the use of reduced nonresident tuition rates to support enrollment. Strategies. A university may also request that the Board set differential tuition rates if necessary to maintain or increase the enrollment of selected types of students.

Persons 65 Years of Age or Older: The tuition for resident students sixty-five (65) years of age or older during the calendar year enrolled shall be 55% of the cost of resident tuition. Students who qualify for this special rate must request the tuition adjustment and provide proof of age (driver’s license or birth certificate) to Registration during the first two weeks of the semester.

Graduate Fellows and Assistants: Resident graduate assistants and graduate student fellows shall be assessed 53% of the resident graduate tuition rate for all on-campus courses, nonresidents shall be assessed 63%. (Policy 5.22). For information regarding graduate assistant tuition rates consult the following website: http://usd.edu/financial-affairs/business-office/tuition-and-fees or contact the Business Office at 605-677-5613 or on campus in Slagle Hall, Room 207. Rates are charged according to the policies of the Board of Regents and are subject to change without prior notice. Rates are revised annually.

Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets: South Dakota residents who are junior and senior students and who are contracted senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets shall be charged 50% of the undergraduate resident tuition rate established by the Board of Regents for not more than four semesters. (BOR, May 1989, pp. 531 and 533).

  1. A senior cadet is eligible for the special tuition rate as long as he or she:
  2. remains a resident of South Dakota throughout each semester he or she has applied for benefits;
  3. has met all the contract eligibility requirements for Senior ROTC and has signed the contract for the programs;
  4. maintains satisfactory academic progress as defined by the United States Army or Air Force Cadet Command;
  5. is not receiving a ROTC scholarship and is not a member of the simultaneous membership program.

Military Science Courses: Military Science courses offered to military science students shall be offered without payment of tuition. All other required fees shall apply.

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP): Students from the WICHE states can participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program. The graduate programs that have been approved by the Board for South Dakota allow students to pay instate tuition rates.

South Dakota Advantage Program:

Effective Summer 2019, first time freshmen or new transfer students from Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming shall be assessed the resident on-campus tuition rate. This reduced tuition rate is available only at the undergraduate level.

3.9.1. The following undergraduate students previously awarded resident tuition will retain resident rates, within the system:

Western Undergraduate Exchange Tuition Rate for Residents of WICHE States: Undergraduate residents of WICHE states are eligible to attend any of the SD universities at 150% of the resident on-campus tuition rate. The states included are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Norther Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Children of Alumni: Effective Summer 2015, non-resident undergraduate freshmen students or first-time transfers attending the same university from which one of their parents or legal guardian received a degree can attend at the resident on-campus tuition rate. Eligibility criteria approved by the Board differ between institutions and are available from each university.

On-Campus Tuition and Fee Reductions and Waivers Established by the Legislature

The Legislature has established several tuition and fee reductions and waivers for the benefit of specific groups of South Dakota residents. The information in this policy on the legislated reductions and waivers contains only excerpts from the South Dakota Codified laws and is not intended to provide the necessary detail to administer the programs. Normal fees should be assessed unless specifically waived. SDCL must be referenced for specific guidelines and eligibility criteria. Current information about eligibility requirements is provided in SDCL and shall be available from the Executive Director’s office.

Employees of the State of South Dakota (SDCL § 3-20): Employees of the state who meet the following requirements and who are admitted to the university may be eligible for a 50% tuition reduction for state support undergraduate and graduate courses up to a maximum of six credit hours per semester. An employee of the state is eligible for tuition reduction as long as he or she:

  1. is continuously employed by the state for a period of one year in a benefit eligible position;
  2. is a bona fide resident of the state;
  3. maintains an academic grade of 2.0 or better;
  4. maintains an academic rating of competent or better in the most recent merit appraisal or is otherwise certified as competent by the immediate supervisor; and
  5. is a benefit-eligible employee.

Registration in any course at the reduced tuition rate shall be limited to space available, as determined by the President or designee; after all of the full-time or full tuition paying students have registered. The Board of Regents shall maintain an annual record of the number of participants and the tuition dollar value of such participation

Members of the South Dakota National Guard (SDCL § 33-6-5): Any member of the South Dakota National Guard can qualify for a reduced tuition benefit by meeting the following qualifications in SDCL § 33-6-7:

  1. Be a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard Unit or Air National Guard Unit throughout each semester or vocational program for which the member applies for benefits;
  2. Have satisfactorily completed required initial basic training;
  3. Have satisfactorily performed duty upon return from basic training, including a minimum ninety percent attendance on scheduled drill dates and at annual training with the member’s parent unit;
  4. Maintain satisfactory academic progress; and
  5. Provide proper notice to the institution at the time of registration for the term in which the benefits are sought.

All nonresident members of the South Dakota National Guard who have met admission requirements in SDCL § 33-6-7 will be treated as residents for purposes of the tuition assessed. The state benefits are applied after applying any federal tuition benefits. The total federal and state benefits may not exceed one hundred percent of the tuition cost.

Children and Spouses of National Guardsmen Disabled or Deceased in Line of Duty (SDCL § 13-55-10): South Dakota residents under the age of 25 years whose father, mother, or spouse died or sustained a total permanent disability resulting from duty as a member of the South Dakota National Guard, while on state active duty or any authorized training duty, shall be entitled to tuition without cost and be entitled to attend any course or courses of study.

Visually Impaired Persons (SDCL § 13-55-11 through 13-55-13): Residents of South Dakota who are visually impaired and who are eligible for admission may pursue any course of study without payment of tuition and fees that other students are required to pay directly to the university until they have received two hundred twenty-five (225) semester hours of credit or its equivalent.

A person shall be deemed to be visually impaired if he or she cannot, with use of correcting glasses, see sufficiently to perform ordinary activities for which eyesight is essential. The impairment shall be certified according to SDCL § 13-55-11.1.

Children of Residents Who Died During Service in Armed Forces (SDCL § 13-55-6 through 13-55-9): Certain children of residents who died while in the service of the armed forces of the United States are entitled to free tuition and to any course or courses of study without the payment of any charges or costs, therefore:

  1. Eligibility is limited to South Dakota residents under the age of twenty-five years.
  2. The deceased parent, mother or father, must have been a veteran as defined in SDCL § 33-17-1, must have been a bona fide resident of South Dakota for at least six months immediately prior to entry into active service, and must have died from any cause while in the service of the armed forces of the United States.

Dependents of Prisoners or Missing in Action (SDCL § 13-55-9): Dependents of prisoners of war or persons missing in action, upon being admitted to a university, shall be entitled to eight semesters or twelve quarters, free of tuition and mandatory fees, other than subsistence expenses, for either full- or part-time study, for so long as he or she is eligible.

Certain Elementary and Secondary Teachers and Vocational Instructors (SDCL § 13-55-24): Certain elementary and secondary school teachers and vocational instructors may pursue any undergraduate or graduate course upon payment of 50% of tuition and 100% of required fees.

Eligibility is limited to teachers and vocational instructors who:

  1. are bona fide residents of South Dakota;
  2. are employed by an accredited school as a teacher as defined in Title 13;
  3. are required by state law, administrative rules or an employment contract to attend college as a condition of employment or to maintain a certificate to teach;
  4. are certified as eligible for this program by the school district or private school by which they are employed; and
  5. maintain an average academic grade of 3.0 or better.

The right of any teacher or vocational instructor to participate in this tuition reduction is limited to the space available, as determined by the president or designee; in any course after all of the full-time or full tuition paying students have registered.

An eligible teacher or vocational instructor may receive the tuition reduction for a maximum of six credit hours per academic year. For the purposes of this section, the academic year shall begin with the fall semester and include all of the following summer.

Survivors of Certain Fire Fighters, Certified Law Enforcement Officers and Emergency Medical Technicians (SDCL § 13-55-22): If a firefighter or certified law enforcement officer or an emergency medical technician dies as a direct result of injuries received in performance of official duties, the survivor, upon being duly accepted for enrollment into any state-supported university of higher education or state-supported technical or vocational school, shall be allowed to obtain a bachelor’s degree or vocational degree for so long as the survivor is eligible, free of any tuition. However, the bachelor’s degree or vocational degree shall be earned within a thirty-six month or eight semester period or its equivalent.

Reciprocity Tuition Rate for Minnesota Residents (SDCL § 13-53B):

Minnesota residents shall be charged the rate established for MN residents by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Minnesota residents who attend first professional degree programs will not pay more than 150% of the resident rates. Application must be made to the Minnesota Higher Education Office in St. Paul, MN.

Starting in summer of 2024, new freshman and Undergraduate transfers from Minnesota are eligible for the South Dakota Advantage program.

Starting in summer of 2024, the Dakota Advantage rate is offered to graduate level Minnesota students if the student received an undergraduate degree from an SDBOR institution.

Resident Tuition for Rehabilitation Services Clients: All nonresidents who are receiving tuition support from the South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services are entitled to pay tuition at resident rates.

Off-Campus Reduced Tuition Programs (SDBOR policy 5.5.2)

Legislated and Board approved tuition and fee reductions and waivers apply only to on-campus courses and programs except where noted below. (SDCL § 13-55-23)

Reduced Tuition Benefit for South Dakota National Guard Members (SDCL 33-6-5): The undergraduate and graduate off-campus tuition rates assessed to members of the South Dakota National Guard may be reduced by the tuition benefit provided for on-campus courses, the adjustment being 100% of the resident on-campus tuition rate. This benefit is applied after the federal tuition benefits and may not exceed 100% of the tuition costs.

Reduced Tuition Benefit for Employees of the State of South Dakota: State employees attending USD-Sioux Falls, who meet the eligibility requirements for reduced tuition, will receive the same tuition reduction as that provided for on-campus courses up to a maximum of six credit hours per semester. The benefit will equal one-half the resident on-campus tuition rate for undergraduate or graduate courses.

Reduced Tuition Benefit for Elementary or Secondary Teacher or Vocational Instructor: (SDCL § 13-55-24): Certain elementary and secondary school teachers and vocational instructors pursuing any undergraduate or graduate off-campus course, distance education course, or other course not subsidized by the general fund, will receive the same tuition reduction as that provided for on-campus courses. The benefit will equal one-half the resident on-campus tuition rate.

Eligibility is limited to teachers and vocational instructors who:

1) are bona fide residents of South Dakota;

2) are employed by an accredited school as a teacher as defined in Title 13;

3) are required by state law, administrative rules or an employment contract to attend college as a condition of employment or to maintain a certificate to teach;

4) are certified as eligible for this program by the school district or private school by which they are employed; and

5) maintain an average academic grade of 3.0 or better.

The right of any teacher or vocational instructor to participate in this tuition reduction is limited to the space available, as determined by the president or designee; in any course after all of the full-time or full tuition paying students have registered.

An eligible teacher or vocational instructor may receive the tuition reduction for a maximum of six credit hours per academic year. For the purposes of this section, the academic year shall begin with the fall semester and include all of the following summer.

Reduced Tuition Program Limitation

A student is only eligible to participate in one reduced tuition program at any point in time. The student will be assigned the appropriate student type that provides the student with the greatest reduced tuition benefit.

Classification for Tuition and Fee Purposes

Students enrolling in any of the state institutions shall be classified as resident or nonresident for admission, fee, and tuition purposes by an appropriate institutional officer. The decision shall be based upon information furnished by the student and all other relevant information. The officer is authorized to require such written documents, affidavits, verifications, or other evidence necessary to establish the residence of the student, including proof of emancipation, adoption, or appointment of a guardian. Students have the burden of establishing residency by clear and convincing evidence.

For purposes of tuition, residence means the place where a person has a permanent home and intends to remain for an indefinite period.

Resident Classification

Each person who applies for admission to a university shall be classified as a resident or a nonresident for admissions and tuition and fees purposes (See Policy 2.2.1 System Undergraduate Admissions and Policy 5.5 Tuition and Fees : General Procedures).

  1. Information, Burden of Establishing Residency, Reclassification
    1. The decision shall be based upon information provided by the student and all other relevant information.
    2. The institution is authorized to require such written documents, affidavits, verifications, or other evidence as are deemed necessary to establish the residence of the student, including proof of emancipation, adoption, or appointment of a guardian.
    3. Students have the burden of establishing residency by clear and convincing evidence.
    4. Students may appeal the original classification decision by written petition to a reviewing body appointed by the chief executive officer of the institution within thirty (30) days after registration for that semester. The recommendation of the reviewing body shall be submitted to the chief executive officer for a decision.
    5. After twelve months continuous presence in South Dakota, students who were initially classified as nonresidents may petition for reclassification.
    6. Petitions for reclassification shall be filed with the Executive Director, who shall act upon them. The Executive Director shall report his disposition of such petitions to the Board at its regularly scheduled meetings. These reports shall be summarized in a manner consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
    7. If a petition for reclassification is granted, the reduced tuition rate shall become effective with the first semester or session following the date on which the petition is granted. Students who fail to request resident status prior to a particular semester or session or to pursue a timely appeal shall be deemed to have waived any claim for reduced tuition for that semester or session.
    8. A student or prospective student who knowingly provides false information or refuses to provide or conceals information for the purpose of improperly achieving resident student status is subject to the full range of penalties, including expulsion, provided for by the Board of Regents.

    For tuition purposes, residence means the place where a person has a permanent home, at which the person remains when not called elsewhere for labor, studies or other special or temporary purposes, and to which the person returns at times of repose. It is the place a person has voluntarily fixed as the person’s permanent habitation with an intent to remain in such place for an indefinite period. A person, at any one time, has but one residence and a residence is not lost until another is gained.

      The residence of an unemancipated person under twenty-four years of age follows that of the parents or of a legal guardian who has actual custody of the person or administers the property of the person. In the case of divorce or separation, if either parent meets the residence requirements, the person shall be considered a resident.

    1. Factors to Be Considered When Determining Whether Students Have Entered South Dakota for the Predominant Purpose of Attending a Public University

    A. The following factors are relevant in evaluating a requested change in a student’s nonresident status and in evaluating whether the person’s physical presence in South Dakota is for the predominant purpose of attending an institution of higher education controlled by the Board:

    1. The residence of an unemancipated student’s parents or guardians;
    2. The status of the source of the student’s income;
    3. To whom a student pays taxes, including property taxes;
    4. The state in which a student’s automobile is registered;
    5. The state issuing the student’s driver’s license;
    6. Where the student is registered to vote;
    7. Ownership of property in South Dakota and outside of South Dakota;
    8. The residence claimed by the student on loan application, federal income tax returns, and other documents;
    9. Admission to a licensed profession in South Dakota;
    10. Membership in civic, community, and other organizations in South Dakota or elsewhere; and
    11. The facts and documents pertaining to the person’s past and existing status
      as a student.

    B. The existence of one or more of these factors does not require a finding of resident student status, nor does the nonexistence of one or more require a finding of nonresident student status. All factors shall be considered in combination, and resident student status may not result from the doing of acts which are required or routinely done by sojourners in the state or which are merely auxiliary to the fulfillment of educational purposes.

    C. The fact that a person pays taxes and votes in the state does not in itself establish residence.

    D. Students who do not meet the requirements of this policy may still be classified as residents if their situation presents unusual circumstances and their classification is within the general scope of this policy.

    1. Resident tuition–Veterans–Armed forces personnel–Spouse or child.

    The following are classified as resident students without having to meet the twelve-month residency requirement within South Dakota pursuant to § 13-53-24:

    1. Any citizen or other person entitled under law to establish a residence in the United States that graduates from a South Dakota high school; or
    2. Any citizen or other person entitled under law to establish a residence in the United States who was a South Dakota resident at the time of high school graduation and lived with a parent or legal guardian who was also a South Dakota resident.

    The Board of Regent shall reclassify any nonresident student to the status of resident student upon timely proof of marriage to a resident of South Dakota.

    After exhausting appeal procedures on campus, students may challenge an institutional residency decision by appeal for a de novo review as provided in chapter 1-26 of the South Dakota Codified laws. 3

    1. Contested case proceedings will be conducted under protective orders entered pursuant to SDCL §§ 1-26-19 and 15-6-26(c), in order to implement rights guaranteed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
    2. A student who has exhausted institutional procedures, including an appeal to the institutional president, may challenge a decision by mailing a written request for a review under chapter 1-26 with the Executive Director within thirty (30) days after the institution transmits notification of its final decision by depositing with the United States Postal Office written notice addressed to the student’s last known mailing address.
      1. The notice will not be effective unless the student attaches all documentation provided to the students by the institution detailing the basis for its residency determination.

      Policy Highlights:

      • **Physical presence in South Dakota for the predominant purpose of attending postsecondary education does not count in determining the twelve-month period of residence.
      • Persons shall be classified as resident students if they have continuously resided in South Dakota for at least twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes of the semester or other session in which the individual registers in the regental system, without having been students during that period.
      • Absence from South Dakota to pursue post-secondary education does not deprive a bona fide resident of resident student status.
      • Persons once properly classified as residents shall be deemed to remain resident students so long as remaining continuously enrolled in the regental system.
      • International students whose visas permit them to establish domiciles in the United States or its territories or protectorates may qualify for resident tuition in the same manner as United States citizens.
      • Any person who graduates from a South Dakota high school qualifies for resident tuition rates at the institutions controlled by the Board of Regents.
      • The Board of Regents shall reclassify any nonresident student to the status of resident student upon timely proof of marriage of the student to a resident of South Dakota.

      Residence of Unemancipated Persons

      • The residence of unemancipated persons (those under the care, custody and support of parents) under twenty-four years of age follows that of the parent(s) or of legal guardians. The parent(s) of the student are not required to reside in South Dakota twelve months prior to the student’s enrollment for the students to be classified as residents; however, the parent(s) must remain in South Dakota for a minimum of twelve months in order for students to retain residency status. § 13-53-29

      Residence-Exception to twelve-month residency requirements.

      • To review all exceptions: § 13-53-29
      • Resident tuition–Veterans–Armed forces personnel–Spouse or child. § 13-53-29.1
      • Recipient of veteran’s educational benefits exempt from twelve-month residency requirement.§ 13-53-29.2

      Classification appeal procedure

      • Students may appeal the original classification decision by written petition to the Residency Appeals Committee within 30 days after registration for that semester.
      • After twelve months of continuous presence in South Dakota, students who were initially classified as nonresidents may petition the Board of Regents for reclassification.
      • If a petition for reclassification is granted, the reduced tuition rate shall become effective with the first semester or session following the date on which the petition is granted. Students who fail to request resident status prior to a particular semester or session or to pursue a timely appeal shall be deemed to have waived any claim for reduced tuition for that semester or session.

      Tuition and Fee Rates

      Rates are charged according to the policies of the Board of Regents and are subject to change without prior notice.

      Rates are revised annually.

      Additional Charges

      Students enrolled in certain courses for which services by an outside vendor are utilized (e.g., bowling, golf, fine arts) or when field trips are required may be required to pay for the additional costs. Students enrolled in programs requiring malpractice or other insurance will be required to reimburse payments made to the insurer on their behalf.

      Refunds and Cancelled Registration

      Please discuss concerns with instructor, chair, or academic dean’s office prior to withdrawing or canceling registration. There are implications of each option that should be considered first.

      Refund Policy

      The end of the drop/add period for standard (those that conform to the regular semester schedule) and non-standard courses offered in a semester is the date the first 10 percent of the term ends or the day following the first class meeting, whichever is later.

      Refunds for Dropped Course

      A student receives a 100 percent refund of tuition and per-credit-hour fees for courses dropped within the drop/add period. No refund shall be provided for courses dropped after that time, except by administrative action. Any course meeting within a standard semester but for less time than the standard semester shall be treated as a non-standard semester course for refund purposes. Courses offered during summer school session and special courses are considered non-standard courses.

      Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled within the drop/add period receive a 100 percent refund of tuition and per-credit-hour fees. Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled after the drop/add period for which they are assessed may be entitled to a pro-rated refund as set forth herein.

      Refunds for Withdrawals

      Students who completely withdraw from the University may be entitled to a refund of tuition and fees and institutional charges calculated through 60 percent of an enrollment period. The refund shall be determined by computing the percentage of an enrollment period remaining after the date of withdrawal multiplied times the tuition and fees originally assessed the student. At no time will refunds be awarded after the 60 percent point of the enrollment period.

      Students who receive a refund and are receiving Title IV aid may be required to repay the appropriate Title IV aid program from which they received assistance for any sums that have not been retained by the University for services rendered or that will no longer be required to support other ongoing expenses for attending the University. Specific information about possible repayment obligations may be obtained through the Financial Aid Office. Payment options are available through the Business Office. See more information at: Withdrawal from the University.

      Cancelled Registration

      If a student’s registration is cancelled, no tuition and fee payment is due. If payments have been made, a student is eligible for a full refund.

      Extensions and Waivers

      The University president, or a designee, may extend or waive the time periods in the following circumstances:

      1. The death of the student;
      2. The student’s disabling condition or severe illness;
      3. The death, disability, or severe illness of immediate family members causing severe financial hardship to the student;
      4. Other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.

      Refunds for Residence Hall Fees

      Students with a room contract who withdraw from the institution will receive a proportional refund at the time of withdrawal up to the 60 percent point, after which no refund is available.

      Refund for Food Service Fees

      Students with a food service contract who withdraw from the University will receive a proportional refund at the time of withdrawal up to the 60 percent point, after which no refund is available. Unused flex dollars for the current semester are returned at 100%.

      Military Service - Withdrawal without Penalty

      Students required to withdraw from the University before completing a semester may receive credit or refund privileges if they are regularly enrolled and belong to a military unit called for duty or are drafted and not eligible for deferment, and the discontinuance of class attendance is on the last practicable day before reporting for duty as determined by the University. Eligible students who are required to report for military duty not earlier than four calendar weeks prior to the date a semester ends as stated in the official catalog of the institution, or after completion of at least 75 percent of the enrollment period in a non-standard semester course, may, when authorized by the instructor, be given full credit for all courses in which they have an average of “C” or better. Eligible students who receive credit or an incomplete, in progress, or normal progress grade for any course in which they are enrolled shall not be entitled to any refund of tuition or fees paid. Eligible students who do not receive an incomplete, in progress, or normal progress grade, or credit for a course in which they are enrolled shall be entitled to a full refund of tuition and academic fees.

      Options for Final Grades and Refunds

      Weeks Still Remaining in Standard Semester

      Course
      Grade

      		 More Than
      4 Weeks      		 Less Than
      4 Weeks
      A Refund A or Refund
      B Refund B or Refund
      C Refund C or Refund
      D Refund Refund
      F Refund Refund
      S Refund S or Refund
      U Refund Refund
      I, IP, NP Refund I, IP, NP or Refund

      ***Course grade is as determined by the instructor, either the grade to date or the final earned grade to date. SDBOR 5:7

      Military Service- Eligibility for Continued Enrollment- Students who belong to a military unit called for duty or who are drafted and not eligible for deferment and who are not required to withdraw from state supported institutions before completing an academic program to which they have been duly admitted will be eligible to resume work on the program after their release from active duty.

      Refunds for room and board shall be pro-rata refunds for the entire semester. Board flex plans will be refunded at 100% of the unused value.

      Refunds for books for military personnel called up for active duty is as follows:

      1. New books with no markings or writing - 100% of purchase price
      2. New books with highlighting or writing - 75% of purchase price
      3. Books purchased used - 100% of used price

      Books must be returned within the semester. Normal campus refund policies apply to books that are not returned prior to the end of the semester.

      Financial Aid

      The Financial Aid Office has one of the most important roles on a school campus. In addition to being responsible for following the rules and regulations of the financial aid programs, the Financial Aid Office:

      1. Determines a student’s eligibility for federal Title IV aid programs and prepares a “package” of financial aid programs to meet that eligibility. This involves several steps and submission by students of many documents. It is important to respond quickly and with complete information if the Financial Aid Office has questions or needs more documentation when preparing a financial aid package.
      2. Notifies the student aid applicant of the types, amounts, and conditions of the aid being offered in the form of an award notification.

      Students must apply every academic year in order to determine eligibility for Title IV federal student financial aid. Students must apply for the aid programs by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa). In general, FAFSAs should be filed by April 1 in order to receive aid for the following fall/spring term. This includes students who intend to attend summer school.

      Students must be admitted to the University of South Dakota in a degree-granting program in order to be eligible for financial aid. Students may apply for aid before they are admitted to USD, but no aid will be awarded until admission status is official.

      The University of South Dakota scholarship and federal grant aid will not exceed the cost of tuition, fees, room, board, and a fixed book allowance.

      To be eligible for a financial aid award in any term (fall, spring, or summer semester), graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of five credit hours (considered half time). Students with Special Student - Graduate Status are not eligible for financial aid. There are a limited number of scholarships available in various departments. Contact the appropriate department for further information.

      Loans

      Graduate PLUS

      Graduate Plus loans are available to graduate or profession students. These are similar to unsubsidized loans. Students with good credit history enrolled at least half time are eligible. The yearly limit on a Graduate Plus loan is equal to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.

      Graduate Assistantships

      Procedures to Apply

      To apply for a Graduate Assistantship (GA), applicants complete an assistantship application. Applications are submitted to the Graduate School for processing; however, each hiring unit makes independent hiring decisions and notifies the Graduate School accordingly. Appointments may be for any duration up to 12 months. Renewal of GA’s is not automatic; rather it depends upon the academic performance of the student, the number of credits in which the student is enrolled, the quality of work performed, and the needs of the University. The Graduate School reviews eligibility each term and is responsible for coding GA’s which in turn, informs the Business Office for billing.

      The hiring unit offering the assistantship determines the level and type of assistantship that is awarded. Faculty and staff supervisors are responsible for monitoring the graduate assistant’s performance and work hours to ensure compliance with relevant Federal rules such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). GA’s are expected to provide a value-added service during the duration of their contract and during working hours as agreed upon by both the supervisor and student.

      Minimum Requirements for Graduate Assistants

      1. Graduate Assistants must be fully admitted graduate students in good academic standing in their degree program and the Graduate School. Students admitted provisionally may not be graduate assistants. Once a student has met their provisions, they are eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship.
      2. Graduate students must meet admission requirements and may have to meet additional departmental or program requirements depending on the type of assistantship.
      3. Graduate Assistants must maintain active status and be registered for at least nine credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and, if their assistantship responsibilities continue during the summer, one credit hour during any summer session. (See further discussion below on required enrollment) Summer enrollment is not required to maintain an Assistantship in the fall and spring semesters. Federal Insurance and Contributions Act (FICA) taxes will be collected on pay unless the GA is enrolled for five credit hours in each month of summer they are employed (SDBOR Policy 5.6).
      4. If selected as a Graduate Assistant, students must successfully pass a criminal background check and sign an intellectual property and confidentiality agreement. Passage requirements for the background check are determined by Human Resources and the Graduate School and may be based on appointment type and expected duties.

      Tuition Reduction

      The following represents the University and Board of Regents’ policy for the Graduate Assistantship program.

      Per SDBOR Policy 5.22, resident graduate assistants and resident graduate student fellows shall be assessed fifty-three percent (53%) of the resident graduate tuition rate for all on-campus courses, in addition to 100% of the general activity fee and any discipline fees. Nonresident graduate assistants and nonresident graduate student fellows shall be assessed sixty-three percent (63%) of the resident graduate tuition rate for all on-campus courses, in addition to 100% of the general activity fee and any discipline fees. Any GA taking distance, off-campus, or University Center courses will receive a tuition reduction equal to the reduction applied to the resident graduate assistant on-campus tuition rate. The waived tuition is part of the compensation for the graduate work. The Induction and Mentoring (IAM) program, through the School of Education, is managed uniquely in that online courses are grandfathered as state-support courses. Please note, not all graduate credit hours are eligible for the tuition remission or the discounted rate.

      A graduate student who was a Graduate Assistant in the previous fall and spring semesters where there was a stipend and service/work requirement, may be provided the reduced tuition rate for summer credits without a stipend and without a work or service requirement.

      Tuition reduction will be awarded based on notification from the hiring unit to the Graduate School.

      Required Enrollment

      Graduate Assistants at USD are required to enroll in a minimum of nine credit hours for fall and spring semesters and, if they are awarded an Assistantship during the summer they must enroll in at least 1 credit hour in any summer semester. Note: Although only 1 credit hour is required for summer, Federal Insurance and Contributions Act (FICA) taxes will be collected on pay unless the GA is enrolled for five credit hours in each month of summer they are employed (SDBOR Policy 5.6).

      The Graduate School offers justified exceptions to the nine-credit hour requirement. For example, Teaching Assistants in English may enroll in a minimum of six credit hours for the fall and spring semesters. Also, students in their final semester of study who provide evidence that fewer than nine credit hours remain for graduation will be granted exceptions by the Graduate Dean or designee. Students requesting this exception may email their request to grad@usd.edu. A completed and signed Program of Study form should be included if the student has not already submitted one to the Graduate School.

      Graduate Assistants need approval from the Graduate Dean to enroll in more than 12 credit hours, unless a program’s curriculum was approved by the Graduate Council to require more than 12 credit hours per term for degree progression.

      If a graduate student fails to meet his/her academic assistantship obligations and/or resigns from the position, the assistantship will be terminated and the tuition charges re-billed for the semester at the non-reduced rate. If the GA falls below the “approved minimum” required number of credit hours for the semester, the GA will be non-renewed in the subsequent semester. The Graduate Dean may grant exceptions based on the rationale provided through a program head request.

      Work Requirements

      A GA work/service component is expected for an Assistantship award for the greater good of the student learning experience and the University. Thus, a teaching or grading assignment would be required for an awarded Teaching Assistantship, research is required for a Research Assistantship, clinical work is required for a Clinical Assistantship, and administrative service would be required for an Administrative Assistantship. Graduate Assistants may not work more than 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters (0.5 FTE). The primary purpose of a Graduate Assistantship is to provide students with professional experience and the necessary financial resources to attend a graduate program.

      Each year the South Dakota Board of Regents establishes a minimum rate for a stipend. Graduate Assistants are expected to work a full semester, defined with the supervisor before the start of the semester, at their assigned percent of FTE (percent of 40 hours per week or equivalent for the semester) in order to receive a semester’s worth of compensation or the full four-week summer session to receive the full four-week summer session compensation. The dollar amount of the stipend may be prorated accordingly if the GA does not work the full semester or summer session.

      Academic Standing

      A graduate student must be fully admitted to a graduate academic program. Students admitted provisionally may not be Graduate Assistants. Once a student has met their provisions, they are eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship. Moreover, a Graduate Assistant must make satisfactory academic progress each term toward completion of the graduate degree being sought. If the cumulative GPA of graduate students receiving Assistantships falls below a 3.0, the student will not continue to receive the Assistantship without the permission of the Graduate Dean.

      Minimum Stipends

      The minimum stipend is $4,067 per semester, $1,016 per four-week session for FY24.

      Personnel Rules

      There are four classifications of Graduate Assistants:

      1. Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) may be awarded in one of three categories. The stipend is paid as a salary over the course of the semester in which the student is employed. Under Internal Revenue Service regulation (IRC 127), Graduate Teaching Assistants are exempt from this taxation.

      • Classroom Instructors are engaged in direct teaching. They are responsible for instructional delivery and are the instructor of record for the course.
      • Instructional and/or Laboratory Support personnel provide instructional support to an instructor or lead instructor in a team-teaching situation. They are generally responsible for a variety of instructional support duties such as proctoring exams, preparing course materials, and/or setting up labs. They support, rather than replace the instructor and are not the instructor of record for the course.
      • Non-credit bearing, instruction-affiliated, or academic-related activities and projects.

      2. Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) are assigned to research faculty to assist in the research process. The GRA stipend is paid as a salary over the course of the semester in which the student is employed. Under Internal Revenue Service regulation (IRC 127), graduate teaching assistants are exempt from this taxation.

      3. Graduate Clinical Assistants (GCA) are assigned to clinical faculty to assist in the clinic setting. The GCA stipend is paid as a salary over the course of the semester in which the student is employed. Under Internal Revenue Service regulation (IRC 127), graduate teaching assistants are exempt from this taxation.

      4. Graduate Administrative Assistants (GAA) work with department heads, deans, directors or other administrators to perform administrative and/or technical tasks/projects. They may be assigned undergraduate mentoring responsibilities. They may provide grading support to instructors. They are not responsible for any instructional support, teaching, or research activities as defined in the GTA and GRA definitions. The GAA stipend is paid as an hourly wage over the course of the semester in which the student is employed. The total stipend amount attainable must meet the minimum standard set by the SDBOR. Under Internal Revenue Service regulation (IRC 127), tuition waivers awarded to Graduate Admin Assistants are to be considered taxable income once the total tuition waiver amount exceeds $5,250. For further questions regarding this regulation visit our FAQ page.

      Graduate Assistants are not required to work on official state employee holidays or during regular academic breaks. Departments may require students to make up hours lost due to state holidays and academic breaks.

      The University of South Dakota is an equal employment opportunity employer.

      Accommodation for students with disabilities will be made per the University’s Disability Services Policy.

      Graduate Assistants are considered temporary employees and are not employed in a permanent classification. Any grievance arising from this employment relationship shall be brought under non-faculty exempt procedures (SDBOR Policy 4.3.1). Graduate Assistants are not eligible for benefits including sick and annual leave, health and life insurance, and retirement.

      For more information about Graduate Assistantships, contact the Graduate School at grad@usd.edu or 605-658-6173.

      Scholarships Available

      Students who are interested in scholarships should contact the program in which they enroll.