University of South Dakota Sanford

Vermillion, South DakotaMD Official website

MCAT508.3AverageSources and context for MCAT
GPA3.79AverageSources and context for GPA
Class size712025-2026Source for Class size
In-state tuition$35,344One year, tuition and feesSource for In-state tuition

Mission

The mission of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is to provide the opportunity for South Dakota residents to receive a quality, broad-based medical education with an emphasis on family medicine. The curriculum is to be established to encourage graduates to serve people living in the medically underserved areas of South Dakota and is to require excellence in the basic sciences and in all clinical disciplines. The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is to provide to its students and to the people of South Dakota excellence in education, research and service. To these ends, the School is to provide educational pathways leading to both the Doctor of Medicine and the Doctor of Philosophy Degrees. Quality health care for the people of South Dakota is addressed by undergraduate, graduate and continuing educational programs as well as by basic and applied medical research. The Sanford School of Medicine should serve as a technical resource in the development of health care policy in the state and provide extension and research initiatives to improve the health care of the citizens of the state.
As the school states it

Admissions office

Medical School AdmissionsVermillion, SD 57069 USA
(605) 658-6302
md@usd.edu

Tuition and cost

Tuition and fees
In state$35,344
Out of state$81,474
One year, as reported. A missing figure means the school did not report it, never that it costs nothing.
Cost of attendance
In state$64,369
Out of state$110,499
Tuition plus the living costs the school budgets for. This is what a loan is sized against.
What you leave with
Average graduating debt
$182,306
Students receiving aid
98%
Deposit
In state
$100
Out of state
$100
Health insurance
In state
$2,182
Out of state
$2,182
After graduation
Earnings, 5 years out
$221,069

Loan payment is on federal graduate loans only. Earnings are medians for everyone who finished this program, and a year out most of them are in residency.

Who can apply

Out-of-state ApplicantsConditionsConditional, Need ties to state such as SD High School Grad, at least 90 credits at a SD college/university, parent living in SD, child of SSOM alumni, member of a federally recognized tribe from border state.
Canadian ApplicantsNoNo
International ApplicantsNoNo
DACA Status ApplicantsNoNo
Transfer applicantsNoNot accepted
Community college prerequisitesYesAccepted
AP creditConditionsVaries by course
Online courseworkYesAccepted
Pass/fail courseworkConditionsAccepted with conditions

Courses taken at an accredited Community College will be considered.

Applying

How competitive is admission here?

15.2applications per seat2025-2026
1,076applications received2025-2026
12%from in state2025-2026
  1. MCAT scores this school will read
    Oldest accepted
    November 2023
    Latest accepted
    October 31, 2026
  2. AAMC PREview
    Policy
    Exploring PREview for Future use – will not be used in this cycle’s admissions decisions
  3. Secondary application
    Required
    Yes
    Fee
    $36
    Sent to
    Most SD residents and selected non-residents with strong ties to SD who have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.1 and a composite MCAT of at least 496.
    Fee waiver
    Available
  4. Secondary deadline
    Due
    Due two weeks after receiving email request for secondary application.
  5. Letters of recommendation
    Committee letter
    Accepted
    Letter packet
    Accepted
    Individual letters
    Accepted
  6. Interview
    Format
    One-on-one
    Invitations
    Mid August to early September
  7. Deposit on an offer
    Required
    Yes
    In state
    $100
    Out of state
    $100
    Refundable
    Yes
    Credited
    Yes

Prerequisite coursework

  • Biochemistry3Required
  • BiologyTwo semesters of General/Introductory Biology or combination with other upper level Biology courses such as Cell Biology, Molecular Biology etc.Lab8Required
  • ChemistryGeneral Chemistry I and II & an Organic Chemistry course with lab.Lab12Required
  • Composition & RhetoricRecommended
  • Genetics3Recommended
  • MicrobiologyLab4Recommended
  • PhysicsLab8Required
  • Physiology3Recommended
  • Psychology3Recommended
  • SociologyRecommended
  • Statistics3Required

Interview

One-on-oneHeld: virtualAll interviews are virtualNot applicable
How the school describes it

Currently, one on one virtual interviews. Please check for updates.

Invitations

Mid August to early September

A typical interview day

Interview day will be virtual and consist of various presentations in the morning followed by one- on-one interviews in the afternoon. More information will be provided following interview invitation.

If you are waitlisted

Waitlist positions
35-40

Applicants on Waitlist are ranked and offered a position in order of their rank.

Sources

Figures here were last reviewed on 2026-08-04.

PreMD publishes no ranking of medical schools and republishes nobody else's. Reported averages and medians describe entering classes; they do not predict an applicant's result.

PreMD is an independent planning tool for applicants. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by this school, and this is not the school's official website. Marks are shown for identification.