Nebraska vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Nebraska Lincoln in Lincoln, NE with University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Nebraska Lincoln is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (24,393 students vs. 10,619 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Nebraska Lincoln is located in Lincoln, NE (Large City setting); University of South Dakota is in Vermillion, SD (Distant Town setting).
• University of Nebraska Lincoln is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Dakota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Nebraska Lincoln 17:1; University of South Dakota 16:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 26.7% lower than at University of Nebraska Lincoln ($10,356 vs. $14,120).
• Out-of-state tuition is 120.9% higher at Nebraska than at University of South Dakota (about $15,642 more per year; $28,584 vs. $12,942).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Nebraska Lincoln than at University of South Dakota (94% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska Lincoln students is 87.5% larger than aid received by University of South Dakota students ($10,541 vs. $5,623).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Nebraska than at USD (25 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Nebraska and USD.
• Typical fall application deadline: Nebraska May 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Nebraska average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.2 higher than at USD (3.43).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.8% at Nebraska vs. 24.1% at USD.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nebraska Lincoln graduates have a $3,300 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($21,700 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Nebraska graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($224 vs. $258).
• More Nebraska graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 70%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.