I am thinking of going to university in South Dakota because of the cheap out of state tuition and living expenses. What is it like there? Are there a lot of international students? Would it be difficult to fit in? I am thinking of attending either SDSU or USD for Business.
Wait, so will you be attending South Dakota of San Diego State University and University of San Diego? All of these schools are VASTLY different. Additionally, the San Diego schools will not be cheap.
South Dakota is very rural and beautiful but is a small state as far as population.
Thanks for your reply, South Dakota State University or University of South Dakota
google south dakota- lots of farmland and “plains” winters.
You can look up those stats, although there may be more internationals in the grad school. I would read up on that very carefully. Also explore the campus life.
South Dakota State 2.1 pct internationals
U of So. Dakota 1.4 pct internationals
I did, I don’t mind the farmlands or the winters, specially for the price. As an international student I pay around 21k/year that includes tuition, rent, and living expenses. If I decide to attend one of the Cal States tuition alone is going to cost me around 20k/year + around 15k/year rent and living expenses. What I am worried about is the lack diversity/international students. By the looks of it most of the students attending are in-state.
If you are concerned about diversity, you shouldn’t really be going to school in North or South Dakota at all… But if those are your only option, go with USD. It’s about the same distance from Sioux Falls, which is fairly diverse, and it’s closer to Sioux City, Iowa.
Right, I get that the price is right. I have never been to S. Dakota, it seems like another world from CA, where I am. Did you look at other low cost colleges? Maine? The South? Did you find the list on the financial aid forum, if not look at the pinned threads on top. Low cost and automatic merit aid schools, 2 lists.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest
I wouldn’t select a college in the State of South Dakota solely based on price, but there is no doubt that the schools in that state are tuition bargains. More importantly, there are very good programs at these universities. I have no familiarity with the business programs in the state, but generally South Dakota State University is regarded as the strongest university overall in the state, excepting the STEM departments at the South Dakota School of MInes & Technology in Rapid City. Also, I think you’ll find some ethic diversity and international students at SDSU if you seek them out. Good luck.
Here is the discussion about low cost OOS tuitions
so you have a choice.
UMaine Ft Kent is cheap and has a lot of int’ls.
^I second South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in addition to SDSU.
Email admissions, say you’re a prospective international student, and ask if you could be put in touch with students from your geographic region to have idea about life in South Dakota.
Also, ask if they have “host families” for international students, especially for Thanksgiving, about the food in the cafeteria (prepared by a chef on location or purchased frozen from Sodexo? Possibility to add spices and herbs to the dishes?) and what the International student association organizes (in terms of trips, especially).
The winters are long, extremely rigorous, but with blue skies. Inside the buildings, it’s balmy. However you can’t go outside very often and you may develop "cabin fever’. The population isn’t very diverse, but there should be a group of international students there, are well as down-to-earth Americans.
I host international students. I commend you for choosing a school with such a low international student population. It will be socially better for your college experience doing this. A lot of people would not understand this but I get it. Go visit the 2 schools see which one you like and go for it. You can do well academically and progress socially and then pick a grad school in a big city.
Thank you all for the help. The only thing I am really worried about is fitting in with the locals, thats why I am worried about the amount of international students. SDSU seems to have a lot more international students and it seems to be located in a bigger town (population wise). USD seems to have a better business program so I am not really sure which one to pick. I think they are both really good universities considering the price for under 21k a year for tuition, and all living expenses.
@MYOS1634 Thats a great idea! I will email admissions, thanks!
Anymore opinions?