South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · founded 1881 · 11,500 students · public research university · Missouri Valley Football Conference (Football), Summit League (most other sports)

Known for: South Dakota's largest and most comprehensive university, recognized as a land-grant institution with leading programs in agriculture, nursing, pharmacy, and engineering, and a strong presence in NCAA Division I athletics.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #299

Top programmes

Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Nursing
Pharmacy
Engineering
Education and Human Sciences
Liberal Arts

Notable alumni

Tom Daschle — Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and Senate Majority Leader.
Adam Vinatieri — NFL placekicker, four-time Super Bowl champion.
Dallas Clark — Former NFL tight end for the Indianapolis Colts.
Casey Tibbs — Legendary professional rodeo cowboy, nine-time world champion.
George S. Mickelson — Former Governor of South Dakota.
Mary Hart — Television personality, longtime host of 'Entertainment Tonight'.
Jim Langer — Pro Football Hall of Fame center for the Miami Dolphins.

Traditions

Hobo Day (largest homecoming celebration in the Midwest)
The 'Ring the Bell' victory tradition
Jackrabbit Stampede (welcome week)
Yellow and Blue Friday
Frost Fest (winter carnival)

If South Dakota State University were…

As a food: Kolache — A humble Czech pastry beloved in the Great Plains—unpretentious, filling, rooted in immigrant agricultural tradition, and way better than people from the coasts expect. SDSU delivers solid value with Midwestern warmth in
As an athlete: Adam Vinatieri — The South Dakota native NFL kicker who became the most clutch player in Super Bowl history without flashy stats—reliable, ice-cold under pressure, and proof that heartland grit beats coastal hype. SDSU produces doers, no
As a person alive today: Mike Rounds — The South Dakota governor-turned-senator embodies steady, pragmatic Midwestern leadership focused on getting things done rather than making noise. SDSU students have that same earnest, roll-up-your-sleeves energy without
As a historical figure: George Washington Carver — The agricultural scientist who revolutionized farming through practical research and made the land-grant mission real. SDSU carries that same torch of applied science serving rural communities, turning prairie challenges
As a movie or TV show: Friday Night Lights (TV series) — Small-town America where everyone knows everyone, sports matter deeply, community is everything, and young people navigate big dreams in humble settings. SDSU is Dillon, Texas transplanted to the northern plains—same hea
As a US president: Gerald Ford — Unassuming Midwesterner who got the job done without pretension, valued straight talk over charisma, and represented heartland decency. SDSU students are Ford types—competent, humble, and underestimated until you see the
As a city: Fargo, North Dakota — A Great Plains city that's friendlier and more functional than its harsh climate suggests, where people build community through shared resilience and nobody's trying to impress anyone. SDSU thrives in that same northern
As an element: Nitrogen — Essential for agriculture, makes up most of the atmosphere but goes unnoticed, and absolutely critical for making things grow. SDSU is the nitrogen of higher ed—fundamental to feeding America, unglamorous, but you'd noti
As a car: 2015 Ford F-150 King Ranch — South Dakota State delivers reliable, no-nonsense utility with deep agricultural roots and surprising capability—the King Ranch trim adds just enough comfort for a community that values both hard work and Jackrabbit prid

Campus life

SDSU provides a traditional college experience in a small-town setting, with a strong emphasis on community and Jackrabbit spirit. Social activities are centered around campus events, over 200 student organizations, and Division I sports, particularly football and basketball.