Admitted Students

As a new member of our community, you'll need to set up your university account to access important resources like your USD email account, online learning platforms and administrative tools.

To begin, please visit the Account Activation portal and enter the unique claim code that has been sent to you. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully to set your password and complete the setup process. Should you need any assistance or have questions, our IT Service Desk is readily available at ServiceDesk@usd.edu or by phone at (877) 225-0027. 

Activate Your Account

After you activate your USD account, it is important to protect it. Install Duo two-factor authentication on your USD account for another layer of online security to protect your personal information. Duo is mandatory for all USD students, faculty and staff.

Register for Duo

Let us know that you're ready to become a Coyote. Log in to the Housing Application beginning early October to submit your $100 University Housing Deposit. This provides you with your on-campus housing options and confirms any scholarship offers you receive from USD. Please contact the Office of Admissions to confirm your enrollment if you are requesting to live off campus. 

Commit to USD and Access Housing Application

The FAFSA will be available beginning in October. File your FAFSA by USD's priority deadline of April 1 to be considered for certain limited funds. 

File the FAFSA 

Beginning mid-April, financial aid award letters will be available in your Student Portal. Review your financial aid award carefully before accepting your financial aid package. Please call the Office of Financial Aid at 605-658-6250 with any questions. Additional information about accessing the Financial Aid Self-Service Portal and accepting your award can be found here. 

Explore USD’s undergraduate academic programs to find your major, and then click “View Curriculum” to see a four-year program guide. This will give you an idea of what classes you will take. You and your academic advisor will develop a plan of study that is right for you. 

View Academic Programs 

Unibuddy is an online chat that connects you with a current student or faculty member. You can use this chat to ask any questions you may have regarding all aspects of USD and the Yote Life. Chat with students, faculty or staff now.

Chat With Us

Your Coyote Card and Coyote Card Mobile ID are your most important pieces of identification at USD. You can use your student ID to make payments, access your residence hall, use printing services and more. Make sure you order your Coyote Card in advance so you’re ready when the semester begins. 

Request Your Coyote Card

 If you intend to keep a vehicle on campus in Vermillion, we recommend that you purchase a parking pass. Students who live on campus are encouraged to purchase a "B" parking pass. Commuters and students who live off campus are encouraged to purchase an "A" parking pass. Make sure to review the parking map and regulations as well. 

Order a Parking Pass

Order Textbooks

We've created a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of paying your bill. Visit our Billing & Payment webpage to access SDePay, learn about payment plans and explore the resources available to you. 

Billing & Payment Resources

As you prepare to join us at USD, we encourage you to have conversations with your family about how you plan to pay for college. You can find helpful resources on our financial aid page. If you choose to add your parents/guardians or others as authorized payers, you can do so in SDePay. Visit our billing and payment webpage for step-by-step instructions and more information about billing options. 

If you have questions about your financial aid award or how you will pay for college, our Office of Financial Aid can help. Request an appointment with a financial aid representative so we can walk you through your financial aid award and address any questions you may have.

Request a Financial Aid Appointment

No matter where you live on campus, there will be opportunities to get involved and find your community through academic and social groups, living learning communities and various student activities. USD offers a variety of on-campus housing options for first-year students. Make sure you connect with your roommate prior to arriving on campus and review our list of items to bring to campus. Don't miss out on securing your spot in on-campus housing! The housing application opens in October. Apply for housing and secure your commitment to USD.

View Housing Options & Floorplans

Learn More About Living Learning Communities

A variety of meal plans are available to select from. Some meal plans include a combination of meal swipes that can be redeemed in the Coyote Dining Hall, an all-you-care-to-eat option, and flex dollars that can be redeemed at any campus dining location. Students with specific dietary needs or restrictions can work with our Campus Dining staff to ensure your meal plan aligns with your needs. Visit our website to learn about the specific meal plans available to you.  

Learn More About Meal Plans

USD offers a variety of resources and services to maintain a safe and secure environment for our campus community.

View Safety & Security Resources

At USD, your safety is our priority. You will often see our officers patrolling around campus, the residence halls and at events on campus. They are here to help you with any concerns you may have while you are on campus. The University Police Department also partners with the Vermillion Police Department to ensure that around-the-clock safety measures are available to USD students.  

Learn More About UPD

To ensure a respectful and safe educational environment, USD requires all incoming students to complete training on healthy relationships, preventing sexual violence, bystander intervention, decision-making and safe alcohol use. You can complete the training online through SafeColleges by Aug. 24, 2024 or attend an in-person session on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

USD is committed to supporting students’ safety and well-being. Along with the required training, we offer various support systems for students facing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.  

Learn More About Equal Opportunity and Title IX

Learn More About I CARE

A personal computer is important to your academic and communication needs at college. USD makes this easy by offering laptop purchases through our ITS department! You can purchase a laptop with Office 365 pre-installed, a three-year warranty with onsite and accidental damage protection, free support offered by USD technicians and more! If you are bringing your own computer, there are a few requirements in place that will ensure the device is fit for your academic needs. The recommended operating systems are Windows 10/11 Pro or MacOS13 or above. 

Visit our website to review specific program requirements and for tips for selecting and preparing your computer to take full advantage of the computing resources available to you at USD.

Purchase a Laptop from USD

Have questions about resources, technology or other things related to life at USD? Check out Coyote One Stop! You can use this resource to find answers to your questions and get quick access to services all in one place.

Visit Coyote One Stop

As a student at the University of South Dakota, there are policies and guidelines in place to ensure you have a safe and positive experience here at USD. Please review the USD Student Handbook by clicking the link below to learn more about these guidelines.

View Student Handbook

Academic integrity encompasses the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility and is the foundation for the standards of acceptable behavior that apply to all within the university community.

View Academic Policies

Regular attendance and active participation are crucial components of academic success and student development. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, lectures, seminars and other academic activities as outlined by the course instructor and syllabus. For any absence, it is your responsibility to communicate with your instructors.

Specific attendance policies will vary by course and instructor. Refer to your course syllabus for additional information and details.