PIERRE, S.D. – Fall enrollment at South Dakota’s six public universities is down 3 percent in full-time equivalent students, the South Dakota Board of Regents reported today.
The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students for the Fall 2019 term—based on total credit hours generated by all students within the regents’ system—was down by 789.1 students to a total of 25,303.8. Total headcount at the six public universities was 34,520, a decline of 3.4 percent or 1,217 students over last year.
In contrast to these system enrollment trends, Dakota State University at Madison reported growth of 1.26 percent in its full-time equivalent students.
“South Dakota’s unemployment rate remains low, and we have a strong job market. That results in some students choosing work over education, especially if they struggle to find the financial resources to attend college,” said Paul B. Beran, the regents’ executive director and CEO. “South Dakota lacks a stable source of state-level, need-based financial aid. In our work with the Governor and state legislators, we’ll continue to stress that such support is critical to make higher education a reality for more students.”
South Dakota Public University System: Fall 2019 Enrollments
Headcount
Full-time Equivalent
Fall
2018
Fall 2019
Enrollment Difference
Percentage Difference
Fall
2018
Fall
2019
Enrollment Difference
Percentage Difference
Institution
BHSU
4,035
3,858
-177
-4.39
2,646.1
2,520.1
-126.0
-4.76
DSU
3,382
3,268
-114
-3.37
2,037.3
2,062.9
25.6
1.26
NSU
3,493
3,427
-66
-1.89
1,913.2
1,817.3
-95.9
-5.01
SDSMT
2,654
2,529
-125
-4.71
2,197.4
2,156.4
-41.0
-1.87
SDSU
12,107
11,518
-589
-4.86
9,802.4
9,402.8
-399.6
-4.08
USD
10,066
9,920
-146
-1.45
7,496.5
7,344.3
-152.2
-2.03
TOTAL
35,737
34,520
-1,217
-3.41
26,092.9
25,303.8
-789.1
-3.02
The historical trend of headcount and FTE enrollment in South Dakota’s public university system, dating back to 1999, is shown in the following charts:
South Dakota Public University System
Headcount Enrollment 1999-2019
Fall Term
System
% Change
1999
26,616
2000
27,134
1.95%
2001
28,446
4.84%
2002
29,533
3.82%
2003
29,716
0.62%
2004
29,844
0.43%
2005
30,720
2.94%
2006
30,901
0.59%
2007
32,148
4.04%
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
32,943
33,779
36,440
36,103
36,430
36,365
36,532
36,439
2.47%
2.54%
7.88%
-0.92%
0.91%
-0.18%
0.46%
-0.25%
2016
36,531
0.25%
2017
2018
2019
36,662
35,737
34,520
0.36%
-2.52%
-3.41%
South Dakota Public University System
Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment 1999-2019
Fall Term
System
% Change
1999
21,606
2000
21,616
0.04%
2001
22,339
3.35%
2002
23,008
3.00%
2003
23,605
2.59%
2004
23,534
-0.30%
2005
24,089
2.36%
2006
24,144
0.23%
2007
24,512
1.52%
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
24.926
25,468
26,625
26,720
26,468
26,782
26,737
26,684
1.69%
2.17%
4.54%
0.35%
-0.94%
1.18%
-0.17%
-0.20%
2016
26,600
-0.32%
2017
2018
2019
26,634
26,093
25,304
0.13%
-2.03%
-3.02%