New Student Checklist
What’s next? Ready to commit to DSU? Follow the New Student Checklist below to make sure you’ve completed all of your next steps to become a Trojan.
The Checklist
Register for classes
Review your class registration options and sign up for classes.
Class Schedule
View your class schedule through your Self-Service Registration page on the myDSU portal
You may need to reference your class schedule for:
- Ordering/buying your textbooks & course supplies
- Insurance Confirmation
If you haven't already, these items will need to be sent to Dakota State to complete your admission file:
- Official/final high school transcript with graduate date
- Official college transcript (not required if courses were taken from any public university in South Dakota)
- ACT and/or SAT scores (optional)
- Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores
- CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exam scores
- Immunization records – two doses of MMR are required for on-campus students
To complete your admission file. You can mail them to the address below, or view your missing items and load unofficial copies directly in your DSU Application Portal.
DSU Office of Admission
820 N. Washington Ave.
Madison, SD 57042
Email
(605) 256-5139
(888) DSU-9988
Financial Aid
Looking for financial assistance for your DSU education?
- Apply for federal financial aid by completing the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at studentaid.gov.
- Watch your email for notes of missing requirements or verification.
- Your financial aid packet will arrive in the mail and will tell you how to access your aid offer online.
- Read the packet carefully and accept or decline each type of aid awarded.
- Federal financial aid has annual limits which means scholarships, private loans, or personal funds may be needed to cover annual costs.
- Additional financing options are outlined in the Financial Aid Award Guide.
Scholarships
One of the best ways to help pay for school is through scholarships. Get started by checking out our available scholarships.
Be sure to watch for emails from your high school staff or check bulletin boards for scholarship opportunities.
DSU Office of Financial Aid
Email: fa@dsu.edu
Phone: (605) 256-5152
- Pay your tuition and fee statement using SDePay under the MyDSU Portal
- Real-time balances and detailed transactions
- You may set up a parent, guardian, or spouse as an authorized user
- Check your DSU email account regularly for updates and announcements
-
You will receive an email from noreply@nelnet.net when your statement is ready.
- Direct Deposit
- You may set up direct deposit for refunds using SNAP found on the MyDSU Portal page.
- Payment deadlines
- Payment deadlines can be located on the DSU Academic Calendar
- Remember that changes to enrollment (adding or dropping classes) will result in changes to your billing statement
- Check your statement regularly
- Attendance confirmation is required of all students (this is not the same as the commitment process for financial aid disbursement)
- It takes place at the beginning of each semester
- Students will be notified to confirm attendance through their DSU email
DSU Cashier Office
To use your GI Bill to help assist with the cost of education, you will need to apply for your GI Bill through the VA. Once you have completed your application please save your confirmation page. This could take up to 30+ Days to process the application at the VA, but once it is processed you will receive your Certificate of Eligibility which will state if you have been approved or denied benefits. Please provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to DSU Veteran Affairs Office.
Mail Military Transcripts
Service members should submit their military transcripts:
- Joint Service Transcript
- Army
- Navy
- Marine
- Community College of the Air Force
- Air Force
After Registration
If you are a veteran or a dependent of a veteran, once you have finalized your registration please submit the benefit registration form below.
Questions? Contact Director of Veteran Affairs Austin Slaughter.
Contract submission
To sign up for on-campus housing you must submit a housing contract, select a meal plan, and pay the $50.00 non-refundable housing deposit, via the link below. When you click on the link, you will sign in with your DSU credentials. After you sign in, click on “Housing Contract Application” in the top menu and then select the first term in which you will begin living in campus housing.
Housing information
To request to live off campus, you will click on the above link, sign in with your DSU credentials, and click on “Application to Live Off Campus” in the right-hand menu. After you complete your application, Residence Life will review your request and provide you with additional information. Please note, you are not approved or denied to live off campus until you are contacted by Residence Life. residencelife@dsu.edu or (605) 256-5146.
Policy Note: Please be aware that all students who are within 2 years of their high school graduation date are required to live on campus unless they are married, living with a dependent child, live 6 nights per week with a parent/guardian at their primary residence within 60 miles of the University, or take 5 or less credit hours on the main campus. If you feel your situation matches any of these circumstances, please contact us so we can assist you.
Roommate assignments
- Fall applications - Students applying for Fall housing who complete their housing application by Friday, June 20 will receive their housing placement prior to July 4. Roommate matches must be confirmed by Friday, June 20 to be guaranteed. Students who complete their contract after that date will be assigned on an on-going basis and roommate matches are not guaranteed.
- Spring applications - Students applying for Spring housing who complete their housing application by Friday, December 13 will receive their housing placement the week of December 16. Students who complete their contract after that date will be assigned on an on-going basis.
- Have a specific roommate in mind? Rooming requests made by both parties are accepted
Learn about our First Year Residence Experience (FYRE), see residence hall layouts, and check out what to bring on DSU's Residence Life Pages.
Dining Services Information
Your DSU meal plan includes:
- Residential dining in the Marketplace
- Meal Plan Flex - redeemable at the Queue, C-Store, the Marketplace, 8th Street Square, and vending and concession stands
Meal Plan access/funding is non-transferrable from semester to semester. Meal Plan Flex funds are transferrable from the fall to spring semesters, but not from year to year.
View meal plan options and complete your meal plan via the link above.
For questions about meal plans, contact Kim with Card Services at kim.wermers@dsu.edu or (605) 256-5225 or check out DSU's Dining Services pages.
- Fall 2025 move-in day for first year and transfer students is Friday, August 22rd in the Courtyard building (917 Washington Avenue North). Drop and Go move-in will be offered August 16-20 by appointment only. Information for Drop and Go and Early Arrival will be included in the housing placement email sent to students in July.
- Students will receive move-in information through their DSU Trojan email account.
- Students will receive your room key and campus map at the check-in table.
- Information regarding laptop, student ID, and parking pass pick up will be communicated with students at the check-in table.
- Signage will direct students to unloading zones and volunteers will assist with the unloading and moving of items to student’s rooms.
- Spring 2026 move-in day is Saturday, January 9, 2026.
DSU Residence Life
residencelife@dsu.edu
(605) 256-5146
Submit your ID photo
You will receive an email from cardservices@dsu.edu with instructions on how to submit your ID photo.
Trojan ID card grants you Access to:
- Residence halls
- Marketplace (DSU Dining Plan)
- Karl E. Mundt Library
- Community Center
- A variety of student activities and events
- Health Services
- Academic Buildings
Trojan Silver
Use Trojan Silver to make purchases at on and off-campus vendors through the Trojan Silver program
Online eAccount
Download eAccount Mobile App to manage your account and add funds
DSU Card Services: Kim Wermers
The Trojan Zone has you covered from required course materials, including textbooks and supplies, to electronic accessories, and DSU apparel.
Textbooks
The bookstore website is where you can find out what course materials you need for class. You can purchase traditional printed textbooks or economical eBooks online at dsubookstore.com. Grab your course schedule and visit dsubookstore.com
Please note that the bookstore no longer carries physical textbooks in the store and you will want to be sure to order all of your supplies prior to the start of the term.
First-day access
Many instructors use First Day Access at DSU. First Day Access includes eBooks and
possibly courseware which is automatically available to you on the first day of class. (Courseware may include interactive content such as assignments, videos, quizzes, flashcards, etc.) Your First Day Access course materials are automatically billed to your tuition and fee statement. Of course, you may elect to opt out of First Day Access if you prefer a printed textbook. If you have a course with First Day Access, you will receive an email giving you all the necessary information.
Open educational resources
Instructors also use Open Educational Resources (known as OER). OER is typically free content that instructors may use either from their personal files or websites.
Questions
If you have any questions, the staff at the Trojan Zone bookstore is ready to help! They can be reached by calling (605) 256-5238 or by email bookstore@dsu.edu.
DSU has an App through our TrojanConnect Student Success platform. This app is going to provide you with resources, events and other great information. Be sure to download the app before classes start!
To get the App
- Go into your App Store
- Search - Navigate Student App
- Search - Dakota State University
- Enter your Trojans email and password
Our counseling center helps students with any 504 and/or IEP plans. Our DSU Strong services assist students on the autism spectrum. We also have mental health counselors and resources for you if you are struggling in classes, experiencing relationship issues, or are concerned by your substance use or someone else’s, Dakota State counseling is here for you.
Connect with our counseling center team to assist in setting up future counseling sessions and/or 504/IEP plans.
We aim to keep our students happy and healthy through our Student Health Office located on campus. Students have unlimited visits to the health nurse for minor illnesses, minor injuries, routine allergy shots, and educational materials. If further diagnosis or care is required, the nurse will refer you to a physician at Madison Regional Health for one of your two free diagnostic office visits.
Please note: Health insurance is strongly recommended and our student health program is not replacement for health insurance.
Student-Athletes Check-List for the NAIA eligibility center
- Create a personal NAIA Profile
- Ask your high school to send final official Transcripts to the NAIA. Do not email transcripts.
- Send official ACT or SAT scores to the NAIA. If you are still planning on taking the test, 9876 is the number you enter to have the test sent to NAIA.
- Pay the registration fee to the NAIA. Check to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.
- Questions, contact your coach or the Athletic Advisor: Dana Hoff.
Physicals
- Sports physicals are required for all student-athletes. Coaches and athletic trainers will be in contact with their athletes with the paperwork needed to be completed by a health professional during the sports physical.
- Questions, contact head athletic trainer Abbey Cook: abbey.cook@dsu.edu
The General Beadle Honors Program is a comprehensive honors program combining academic, extra-curricular, leadership, and service activities.
With the program you get to:
- Enroll in honors classes
- Build a professional network
- Engage in a living/learning community
- Gain great academic stability
Laptop Program
- Computers will be available on move-in day
- Technology fee of $398.75 per semester will be added to your account – this pays for:
- Computer
- Wireless infrastructure
- Specialized computer labs
- Servers and bandwidth
- Software licensing
- DSU Support Desk and servicing
- Bring your own padded carrying case (backpack or other type of bag) and some type of file storage/back-up device (USB flash drives or external hard drives)
IT Support Desk
Account Access & Login Information
At mydsu.dsu.edu mydsu.dsu.edu you can set up your account access and access your MyDSU portal account. The ITS Support Desk will send you an email with a verification code to complete your account set up.
ITS Support
If you are having issues setting up or accessing your accounts, visit the ITS Support Website ITS support website or call ITS support at (605) 256-5675.
Get Connected
Visit our website for instructions on how to connect university email to mobile phone email app, as well as get computer, phone, and gaming consoles connected to campus wireless networks.
Purchasing a parking permit is optional, but a permit is required to park on campus. To access the DSU Parking Rules and Regulations and parking permit registration, go to MyDSU Portal > Quick Links > Parking Information. Parking permit registration will open the beginning of August and the cost of the permit will be added to your tuition bill.