Medical Schools in South Dakota: How to Get In (2024)
/Learn admissions strategies for medical schools in South Dakota
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: List of medical schools in South Dakota: Rankings & admissions statistics
Part 3: South Dakota medical school profiles
Part 4: South Dakota medical school admissions strategies
Appendix A: South Dakota medical schools by degree type
Appendix B: South Dakota medical schools by institution type
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Part 1: Introduction
With fewer than 1 million residents spread over 77,123 square miles, South Dakota has earned its nickname “the land of infinite variety!” Whether you’re thinking of the weather, landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, or the 10 friendly people you’ll meet in each square mile, South Dakota has plenty to offer visitors and residents alike.
Given its nickname, it may surprise you to learn there isn’t much variety in medical schools in South Dakota. The Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota (USD) was designed to address the unique needs of rural populations where over 2,000 physicians come together to teach students annually. In this guide, we’ll take a look at Sanford School of Medicine’s ranking and admission statistics, along with its curriculum offering. Then, we’ll explore admissions strategies that can boost your chances of landing a spot there.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in South Dakota: Rankings & admissions statistics
Sanford School of Medicine at University of South Dakota
Currently, the Sanford School of Medicine is unranked on US News and World Report among medical schools overall, but it sits at #6 for Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas. Its most recent entering class (for 2024-2025) had 72 students, the majority of whom (62) were South Dakota residents. The remaining 10 are non-South Dakota residents with ties to South Dakota. In fact, approximately 60 South Dakota high schools are represented in the current MD and MD-PhD classes combined! Most of the entering class are women (40), and all had competitive GPA and MCAT scores, at 3.79 and 508.5, respectively.
While non-residents can and do gain acceptance into Sanford School of Medicine, they must have strong ties to the state to be considered. That said, the school places a heavy emphasis on diversity for both recruitment and retention.
Resident tuition for Sanford School of Medicine is relatively low at $34,696, but non-residents will pay considerably more at $79,526. On average, students graduated with $188,472 in student debt for the class of 2024, which is far below the national average of $234,597. For 2024-2025, the interview rate was 18.8%. We’ve summarized this information in the table below:
| South Dakota Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford School of Medicine* | $79,526 OOS |
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Part 3: South Dakota medical school profiles
Since 1907, Sanford School of Medicine has offered exceptional medical education to aspiring physicians. It started out as a two-year medical program, but by the 1960s, the state had debated whether medical school should be completed in two years or four. What began as a two-year medical school has become a fully accredited, modern four-year institution focused specifically on training students who wish to practice in rural settings.
Degree programs at Sanford School of Medicine
The Sanford School of Medicine offers the following degree programs:
Master’s in Basic Biomedical Sciences
Doctorate in Basic Biomedical Sciences
Doctorate in Medicine (MD)
Doctorate in Physician Science (MD-PhD)
They also offer two concurrent/dual degree programs: MD-MBA (Master’s of Business Administration) and MD-MPH (Master’s of Public Health).
Curriculum at the Sanford School of Medicine
As a student at the Sanford School of Medicine, your curriculum is broken down into three segments called “pillars.” Each pillar has a distinct specialization, and you’ll spend time at various locations depending on the pillar you’re working on.
Pillar 1:
Three semesters, based in Vermillion
You’ll gain knowledge in an integrated program covering Basic Biomedical Sciences. The subjects covered include anatomy, biochemistry, histology, physiology, neurosciences, microbiology, pharmacology, behavioral science, and pathology. In this segment, the teaching is systems-based with the goal of moving toward clinical application.
Pillar 2:
Two semesters, based in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, or Yankton
During this time, you will engage in a longitudinal clerkship where you will focus on family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and adolescent medicine, psychiatry, neuroscience, and surgery.
Pillar 3:
Three semesters, based in Sioux Falls, Rapid City or Yankton
In this final phase, you will participate in clinical rotations in various specialties.
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Part 4: South Dakota medical school admissions strategies
If you’re considering applying to the Sanford School of Medicine, you can increase your odds of acceptance by following a few simple strategies.
Strategy 1: Ensure that you have and maintain a strong academic record
While the average GPA and MCAT scores for Sanford School of Medicine aren’t the most competitive, you’ll still need to ensure you meet—or exceed—them to stand a chance at acceptance. This rings true even more so for non-resident students since the school has a clear preference for residents. In any case, doing well in your prerequisites for medical school will be critically important—especially in your science classes such as biology, chemistry, and physics.
To help you build this foundation, do your research on the back end before enrolling in courses. The school recommends applicants gain a broad background in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Research professors by asking (or reading) what others have to say about various professors and their teaching style, and choose professors who closely align with your learning style.
Strategy 2: Impress adcoms with your secondary essays and in your interview
For 2024-2025, Sanford School of Medicine’s secondary essays focused heavily on the school’s mission and efforts at increasing diversity. Think back at your experiences and consider using an anecdote that targets this mission. They wanted applicants to share how their background and experiences will help further the school’s mission and bring diversity to the school. There was also a “challenge” essay. If you’re not a South Dakota resident, be prepared to explain your ties to the state when writing your secondary essays.
When approaching your secondary essays, it’s a good idea to prewrite your responses so you have plenty of time to polish and perfect them, so keeping an eye on the released prompts in advance is usually helpful.
The interview at Sanford School of Medicine is done by open file with two interviewers.They’ll be able to see your entire application, meaning your personal statement, essays, GPA, MCAT score, extracurriculars, etc. You need to be prepared to answer questions about anything you’ve included in your file.
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Strategy 3: Prepare a compelling personal statement
Your personal statement is your first opportunity to really “speak” to and impress adcoms outside of your grades and scores, so preparing an essay that captivates your audience is vital. Before writing it, consider your motivation to pursue medicine and your specific ties to South Dakota. This is the time to discuss any personal experiences that led you to pursue medicine.
Then, you’ll want to clearly articulate your goals and how they align with the mission at Sanford School of Medicine. This would be a great time to emphasize your commitment to serving rural and underserved communities.
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Final thoughts
If you want to attend medical school in South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine is an excellent choice. This is particularly true for those who desire to work in more rural areas. By building a strong academic foundation, preparing outstanding secondary essays, nailing your interview, and wowing adcoms with your personal statement, you’ll stand a greater chance.
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Appendix A: South Dakota medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in South Dakota (MD)
Sanford School of Medicine
Osteopathic medical schools in South Dakota (DO)
There are no osteopathic medical schools in South Dakota.
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Appendix B: South Dakota medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in South Dakota
Sanford School of Medicine
Private medical schools in South Dakota
There are no private medical schools in South Dakota.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
