Vermillion, SD
School Overview
Tuition (In State): $33,036
Tuition (Out of State): $79,166
Accreditation Status: N/A
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Total Enrollment: 58
Degrees: MD
Founding Year: 1907
Accreditation Year: 1942
Website: https://www.usd.edu
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Application Information
Average MCAT: 509
Average GPA: 3.79
Male: N/A
Female: N/A
Interview Feedback Summary
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 38% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
School Review Summary
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5 Most Common Secondary Essay Questions for USDSM
- 1. Motivation and Fit – Explain how your experiences and long-term goals would help meet the school’s mission. (1500 characters)
- 2. Community, Diversity, and Equity – Explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school. (1500 characters)
- 3. Understanding and Commitment to Medicine – Describe how your experiences in health care or social care activities will help you become a good physician. (1500 characters)
- 4. Personal Experiences and Challenges – Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you overcame it, and what you learned. (1500 characters)
- 5. Career Goals and Future Aspirations – What are your career plans if you are not admitted to medical school this year or after several applications? (1500 characters)
About the School
The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is nationally known for excellence in medical education. With its award-winning curriculum, the school prepares medical students to practice in all fields of medicine and is particularly recognized for its reputation in family medicine and in rural medicine. In addition to the M.D., the school of medicine offers graduate degrees in basic biomedical science, sustains a vibrant and forward-looking research agenda, and is home to the interdisciplinary Center for Brain and Behavioral Research.
Curriculum
As a community-based program, the curriculum emphasizes family medicine and primary care with the support and participation by practicing physicians and community hospitals throughout the state. Community hospitals and clinics provide teaching sites and the practicing physicians are teachers.
Facilities
The first two years of basic science education are delivered in Vermillion. The third year of the program is provided in community settings and hospitals in Sioux Falls, the Rapid City area and Yankton. The fourth year is provided in hospitals and ambulatory clinics across the entire state of South Dakota.
Last Updated: Oct 20, 2025
SDN Insights
Our analysis of USDSM:
Cost of Attendance: $274,401
A student taking student loans for all 4 years at USDSM, including tuition, fees, locally adjusted cost of living expenses, incidentals, and interest, can expect to have total student loans of $274,401. Estimate repayment with the SDN School Loan Repayment Calculator.
Cost of Living: Lower than 79% Nationally
The cost of living at USDSM is lower than 79% of all similar schools nationwide. This can significantly reduce your overall expenses during your time at the school, making it a more affordable option.
Environment: Large Rural
Nestled in an area with excellent walkability and strong biking infrastructure, USDSM offers students flexibility in how they get around. Whether on foot or bike, most destinations are easily accessible, making for a convenient daily routine.
Why no Tier Rankings?
Although we could tier rank, over the past 25 years we've found no compelling benefit for ranking schools. Students are most successful when they prioritize personal and academic fit over school rank.
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