Embrace Innovation at Dakota State University

Dakota State University (DSU) is a public university located in Madison, South Dakota, providing students with an innovative and affordable educational experience. We are a small school making big ideas a reality.

Dakota State University offers technology-centric degrees in a variety of majors at the associate, bachelor’s and graduate degree levels. Academic programs of study are offered in computer science and cyber operations, digital arts and design, animation and game design, business and health, biology and physical sciences, and education. These programs are offered through four colleges: the College of Education, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business and Information Systems, and the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences.

Technology Innovation

Strategic partnerships with governmental entities and corporations have bolstered DSU’s position as a technologically forward-thinking institution. DSU holds four Center of Academic Excellence designations from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security in: Cyber Defense Education, Cyber Defense Research, Cyber Operations, and as a Cyber Defense Consultative Regional Resource Center.

These technology-infused degrees give students the platform to immerse themselves in today’s hottest careers in technology, business, arts and science, health or education. Both on-line and on-campus programs have been recognized for their quality, affordability, and graduates’ job placement records, which are 100% for several majors. Many professors serve on national committees with their professional organizations.

Innovative Successes at DSU

At Dakota State University, innovation is a word that describes who we are and what we do, and we do it well. Check out these examples of what our students and graduates can accomplish:

• Students in four programs can get a B.S. and M.S. in five years, with opportunities for scholarships and internships.
• All education graduates earn their K-12 Technology Endorsement.
• DSU’s student information security team won the 2016 North Central Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.
• A DSU student won several awards in an international cyber defense competition in 2017.
• In 2017, a DSU team competed for the first time in a national offensive penetration testing competition.
• Five DSU science students have been invited to Sorbonne University in Paris for a week’s training in computational chemistry and molecular modeling.
• Two graduates used their technology and education degrees to create a business called Learn.Create.Build, which hosts children’s technology camps around the region using the game “Minecraft.”

Rankings

DSU’s innovations lead to high placement in rankings, such as these 2018 listings:

• #1 best value online doctorate in information system assurance and security programs by Best Value Schools
• #2 most affordable doctoral degree in information technology by Grad School Hub
• #7 best online bachelor’s degree in computer science by The Best Schools
• #8 best colleges for information technology degree programs by Schools.com
• One of the top 50 online cybersecurity programs by Cyber Security Masters Degree.org

Dakota State's national visibility and rankings continue to rise. "Best Masters Programs" has ranked DSU's master's programs as #20 in it Most Affordable degree programs in the U.S. "Computer Science Programs" has ranked seven of DSU's tech-intensive degree programs as the best in South Dakota: graphics and design, computer security, system administration, computer programming, network management, and computer science.  Our graphics and design programs are ranked in the top 10% in the country, and our computer programming courses are No. 2 in the Midwest out of 817 schools.  No. 1 is the University of Michigan.

Graduate Program Recognitions

There are several agencies and publications that have developed higher education rankings, ratings and recognitions. DSU graduate programs occupy a place beside some of the nation’s best. A few of those 2018 acknowledgments are listed here:

• #1 Most Affordable Ph.D. in Cybersecurity Degrees Online (Computer Science Degree Hub)
• #1 Best Value Doctoral in Information Systems Assurance and Security Programs Online (Best Value Schools)
• #3 Best Data Science Ph.D. Online (Data Science Degree Programs Guide)
• #5 Best Online Ph.D.s in Computer Science (Affordable Colleges Online)
• #6 Most Affordable Ph.D. in Health Informatics Online (Grad School Hub)
• #7 Most Affordable Online M.S. in Computer Forensics (College Choice)
• #12 Best Online M.S. degrees in Education Technology (Best Value Schools)
• #22 Best Online M.S. in Network Security (The Best Schools)
• #23 Best Online M.S. in Computer Science in 2018 (Master’s Programs Guide)
• #30 Best Online M.S. degree in Computer Forensics (College Choice)
• #37 Top 50 Health Informatics Master’s Degrees (Value Colleges)
• Best Graduate Healthcare Degrees in 2018: M.S. in Health Information Management (MHA Online)

Campus Environment

At DSU, students can enhance classroom learning or become involved on campus through one of the 50 campus clubs or organizations, including our very active International Club that sponsors many events throughout the year, on-campus and in the local community. Students can also follow the 12 DSU athletic teams or check out events in the Madison community.

The city of Madison (population 7,425) offers shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. The city is situated between two glacial lakes, providing for captivating scenery and year-round recreation opportunities of fishing, hiking or cross-country skiing. Both the city of Madison and the university campus were named the safest in South Dakota in 2017. The city of Madison welcomes the international students with open arms.

Enrollment for Fall 2017 was 3,307; about 1,400 of those students are on-campus. Our overall student:faculty ratio is about 17:1.

Small School Opportunity

At DSU, we are proud to have over 80 international students representing more than 21 countries. International students come to DSU because of our excellent academic programs as well as our friendly, inviting culture.

We are a small university that provides individual, personal attention to all of our students, but with all the amenities of a bigger university. We offer an exceptional educational opportunity while experiencing the true culture of the midwestern United States.

Hear about DSU from two of our current international students:

DSU invites you to embrace the constant technology advances which impact every part of our daily lives so that you can shape your future as an innovative creator -- not just a consumer -- of technology. Go to dsu.edu to read more about how you can Embrace Innovation at Dakota State University.