About DSU
Uniting on an upward pace
In 1881, Dakota State University was founded as a school for teacher education, in the Dakota Territory. Though we have since shifted our primary focus of education to the cyber world, Dakota State remains one of the few universities in the nation, who provides students with the technology needed to excel in any career.
Dakota State University is located in the ancestral territory of the Oceti Sakowin, an alliance made up of the Isanti, Ihanktunwan, and Titunwan. Today, these peoples are represented by the nine federally recognized tribes of South Dakota: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe.
As a united front, our Trojans remain on an upward trajectory into the future. We’re growing at a fast pace, expanding our campus, and immersing ourselves in the most advanced and innovative technologies. We want you to rise with us.
Research and economic development
Research at Dakota State is rising. Over the last several years, DSU researchers have expanded their initiatives from peer-reviewed publications and high-profile conference presentations, to include new infrastructure, internationally relevant accolades for their work, and an ever-growing community of partners. Dakota State University researchers garner funding from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as some international sources.
Rankings
Ranked among The Best Online Colleges in South Dakota for 2020 by TheBestSchools.org - Dakota State University offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs through four colleges.
Our online programs are named one of the best values based on OnlineSchoolscenter.com, and the most affordable by CollegeValuesOnline.com. There are plenty of programs at DSU Online such as Accounting, Business Management, Computer Science, Cyber Operations, Elementary Education, Health Informatics, Information Systems, Marketing, Network and Security Administration, and more.
Dakota State has also earned the 2020-2021 Military Friendly® School designation by means of affordable tuition, quality degrees, and unique partnerships that help military members succeed.
Accreditations
Our accreditations demonstrate the quality of programs across our campus. Accreditations impact Dakota State in a variety of ways, including student eligibility for federal assistance or loans, enabling graduates to sit for certification exams, and assuring all our constituencies that DSU meets or exceeds quality standards.
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- South Dakota Department of Education
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Where everyone’s welcome
Madison, South Dakota
Leaving home can be hard. But at DSU, we make this transition smooth and effortless, so you’ll feel like you never left. With four on-campus residence halls and two apartment style housing complexes, you can practically choose where to live. Plus, being in the heart of Madison, you’re surrounded by restaurants, stores, lakes, hiking trails, and job opportunities.
Community and campus events
At DSU, there’s never a dull moment. Support your fellow Trojans at an athletic event. Sign-up for a summer camp. Share your passion with others when you become a part of our many clubs and organizations. Find your friends, discover your family.
News
Faculty win Hackin’ Fest competition
Four DSU faculty in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences won the Capture the Flag competition at the 2024 Wild West Hackin’ Fest in Deadwood.
DSU professor and international research team discover dinosaur flap-run
Dr. Alex Dececchi, Assistant Professor of Biology in Dakota State University’s College of Arts & Sciences, is part of an exciting recent discovery. Dececchi led a team of international researchers in discovering evidence for the first time that small-feathered dinosaurs ran at speeds achieved only by using their wings to ‘flap-run.’
DSU alumnus shares lifelong learning message
While on campus, DSU alumnus and NBA referee Tre Maddox, B.S. (’90), spent time with student-athletes, gave a talk sponsored by DSU’s TriBeta Club, visited the new athletics facilities, and reminisced about his time at Dakota State.
“The United States' status as a global power comes from serving as a magnet for the world's brightest minds.”
President José-Marie Griffiths, PhD