Dual Credit

Review Eligibility and Select Coursework

Before submitting your dual credit application, work with your high school counselor to select coursework and ensure you meet the eligibility requirements outlined below.

Spring 2025 Courses

View a Complete List of South Dakota's Dual Credit Course Offerings

Eligibility Requirements for Dual Credit

Before completing the application, ensure you are eligible for dual credit coursework. The admission requirements are as follows:

1. High school junior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota
   who meets one of the following requirements:
   
   • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale; or
   • rank in upper one-third of their graduating class; or
   • earn an ACT composite score of 24 reflective of the 70% percentile (or
     equivalent SAT score of 1180)
2. High school senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota
   who meets one of the following requirements:
   • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale; or
   • rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class; or
   • earn an ACT composite score of 21 reflective of the 50% percentile (or
     equivalent SAT score of 1080)
3. High School junior/senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South
   Dakota who meets all of the following Undergraduate admissions
   requirements:
   • ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent SAT score of 970); and
   • successful completion of coursework Requirements:
     
     • Four Years of English
     • Three years of advanced mathematics
     • Three years of laboratory science
     • Three years of social studies
     • One year of fine arts
4. High School junior or senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South
   Dakota who meet the benchmark scores on one of the assessments listed
   below:
   • Smarter Balanced – Score Level 3 on the English Language Arts &
     Mathematics 11th Grade Assessments
   • PreACT Exam Score of 24
   • ACCUPLACER Next Generation (QAS – Score of 255 AND Writing Score
     of 263) 

Home school students must meet the GPA or test score requirement to qualify. See the "Home School Students" tab on this page for more details.

New or Returning to Dual Credit

Are you new to dual credit or returning from taking a break from coursework this past semester? This application is for you! Follow the steps below to submit your application for review.

Step One:

Apply Now

Step Two:

Submit High School Transcript

Your high school counselor can email a copy to [email protected]. Your high school transcript can also be uploaded and submitted on the application.

All application materials must be successfully submitted before the application will be reviewed for course registration.

Continuing Registration

Did you complete at least one dual credit course this past semester? If so, this application is for you!

Register Now

Home school students will apply using one of the application options outlined in the "Apply for Dual Credit" tab. Additional eligibility criteria and requirements specific to home school students are outlined below.

Eligibility Requirements

Home school students eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets one of the following requirements:  

• Juniors:
  
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale; or
  • earn an ACT composite score of 24 reflective of the 70% percentile (or equivalent SAT score of 1180)
• Seniors:
  • earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale; or
  • earn an ACT composite score of 21 reflective of the 50% percentile (or equivalent SAT score of 1080)
• Juniors/Seniors:
  • ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent SAT score of 970); and
  • successful completion of coursework Requirements:
    • Four Years of English
    • Three years of advanced mathematics
    • Three years of laboratory science
    • Three years of social studies
    • One year of fine arts
  • Smarter Balanced – Score Level 3 on the English Language Arts & Mathematics 11th Grade Assessment
  • PreACT Exam Score of 24
  • ACCUPLACER Next Generation (QAS – Score of 255 AND Writing Score of 263)

Alternative Instruction Notification

Home school families who are interested in enrolling students in the reduced tuition dual credit program must have an Alternative Instruction Notification and memorandum of understanding (MOU) on file with the Department of Education and work directly with the department to start the enrollment process for the reduced cost courses.

First families will need to fill out an Alternative Instruction Notification by going to the South Dakota Department of Education website and utilizing the form on their page.

Alternative Instruction Notification

Once the Alternative Instruction Notification above has been saved, the system will take you back to the home screen. Next, a Dual Credit MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) will need to be completed.

Click on the box that says: Finish Dual Credit MOU. Sign and submit the MOU. At this point, the MOU will be sent to the DOE. Once the DOE signs the MOU, you will receive a copy and a copy will be sent to the institution you request on the MOU. Your child can then proceed to apply for the dual credit program. If your child has met admission requirements, the University of South Dakota will register them in their requested courses.

For more information on admissions requirements, please contact Wyatt Thompson at [email protected].

Once you are registered for dual credit courses, you will receive an official registration confirmation email with important information and dates for your course(s). Before the first day of class, be sure to review the information provided in your confirmation email. Below are the main steps you'll need to complete and helpful reminders for a successful semester. 

After you've registered:

• Review our Dual Credit Course Registration webpage, which will walk you through crucial steps before the start of your Dual Credit courses.
• Thoroughly review your confirmation email for important dates and information. This resource will provide the necessary information for completing the additional steps below:
  • Order textbooks/materials for your course(s)
  • Familiarize yourself with USD systems used for your course (USD email, Desire to Learn (D2L), MyUSD Portal, SDePay)
  • View and submit your bill before the semester begins
    • Contact our USD Business Office for questions/concerns regarding your bill

Helpful tips for a successful semester:

• Check your USD email at least three times a week. USD instructors will only communicate with students through their USD email address.
• Plan for three hours of out-of-class homework per one credit hour of class. Set aside this time to make sure you stay on track with your studies.
• Ask questions. If you have questions or concerns about the course, email the instructor and me ([email protected]) right away.
• Reference the course syllabi often. Look at this document on a weekly basis and each time you start a new assignment to ensure that you are meeting all due dates.
• Get set up for online courses. You can learn more about the digital delivery of your classes by referencing our Online Student Handbook, with information about D2L, IT assistance and more. 

• Students must meet satisfactory academic progress in all HSDC or concurrent coursework credit to maintain eligibility in the program.
  
  • A HSDC or concurrent credit student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is considered to be in good academic standing.
  • If a student’s cumulative grade point average for all earned credit in HSDC or concurrent credit coursework falls below 2.0 in any given term, the student will be placed on suspension from HSDC or concurrent credit coursework for the following term (reflecting Fall and Spring semesters only).
• Any student who earns an “W", "D", or "F” grade in any given term shall be denied any future enrollment unless one of the following criteria are met:
  
  • Have a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all prior HSDC coursework. Students meeting this criteria may enroll in courses the following semester:
  • OR The student must sit out of HSDC or concurrent credit coursework for one term (reflecting Fall and Spring semesters only) and then repeat the failed course upon re-entry into the HSDC program. If repeating a failed course, students may also be eligible to enroll in additional HSDC courses to not exceed a total of 10 credit hours. Waivers for not repeating a failed course can be approved by the System Vice President for Academic Affairs when good cause is shown.
  • If you have less than a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all prior HSDC coursework, or if you received a “W” or “F” grade in a dual credit course, petition for re-enrollment by showing “good cause” when submitting an Eligibility Exemption Form. Contact Claire Rizzio, USD’s dual credit advisor, at [email protected] or at 605-658-6132 with questions and for more information.

Dual & Concurrent Credit Administration Guidelines

Benefits of Dual Enrollment

Dual Credit Today, USD Scholarship Tomorrow

USD is proud to offer the South Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship to students that successfully completed dual credit courses at USD. This scholarship is awarded for up to four years as a Coyote.

Criteria

• Earn a "C" or higher in all High School Dual Credit (HSDC) courses
  
  • Any HSDC course completed with a D, F or W will not be counted toward the credit total considered for the scholarship
• Enroll at USD as a first-time, full-time student

Award amounts will be based on how many credit hours the students have completed with USD.

All eligible students will be awarded automatically; an application is not required for this award. South Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship will be in addition to other awarded scholarship(s)* at USD. For example, USD’s Coyote Beginnings Scholarship, the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship and other awards are available to those who meet established criteria.

*The South Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship will not be in addition to any premier scholarship awarded by USD.*