SDSU’s record freshman class includes strong growth in Sioux Falls area

This paid piece is sponsored by South Dakota State University.

Wonder why SDSU set a record for its freshman class enrollment this year? Just listen to these stories.

Two years ago, as a high school junior, Sophie Spier pictured herself studying business – and not in Brookings.

That changed the day representatives of South Dakota State University’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions spoke to her AP Biology class at Washington High School.

“I was inspired to pursue a degree in pharmacy,” she said. “The stats involving the college’s success in the professional field gave me assurance that my education would be prioritized and advanced.”

She’s now working toward practicing in a hospital, with a minor in political science and an eye toward lobbying or otherwise engaging in the issue of prescription drug costs.

“The resources SDSU offers not only for academia but also for adjusting to a new experience in life were influential in my decision to become a Jackrabbit,” she said. “The first couple months have gone by way too fast, but there is always something to look forward to at the end of a long week.”

For Benjamin Geis, a 2024 graduate of O’Gorman High School, SDSU emerged as the school of choice for his double major in biochemistry and Spanish as he works toward medical school.

“I really wanted a good undergrad school but something that wasn’t super-expensive, and when I toured SDSU, I just liked the place more,” he said. “I felt more at home, and so far I’m really enjoying it.”

His dual credit classes from high school easily transferred to SDSU, “so I’m technically a junior by credit, and I’m taking sophomore-level courses like organic chemistry and microbiology,” he said. “I could save time graduating early, and I’m definitely saving money because it’s in state. If I’d gone on the East Coast, my credits likely wouldn’t have been accepted.”

Washington High School graduate Ava Brink is pursuing a biology major as well, but her plan is a career in dentistry.

“Something that helped me decide to go to SDSU was the environment here. It is a very welcoming community that just feels like home,” she said.

“My first couple months on campus have been amazing. Some things that stood out to me are definitely the class sizes and the difference between high school and college. Some of my classes have hundreds of students in them, which was a huge switch. The jump from high school to college was definitely an adjustment, but it is very doable. It is just a lot more self-paced and self-motivated here.”

Roosevelt High School graduate Connor Andree came to Brookings for a different reason: It’s the only school in the Midwest that offers a degree in concrete industry management, or CIM, which supports his career goals of managing a job site or working in industry sales.

“My mom went here, so I definitely had some bias in love for the school. I loved the campus and the spread-out layout,” he said. “I liked the size of the school, where it feels big but still like a community. They also offered the best construction-based courses in the area, which was my final deal-breaker.”

So far, “campus life is really fun,” he continued. “Classes are very different from high school. Some of mine are much smaller with only 14 students, and some are much larger with 385 students.”

The fact is, the entire SDSU freshman class is larger than ever this year. With 2,449 first-time students, this year’s class exceeds the previous record of 2,306 set in 2013 and is 7.6 percent larger than last year’s class.

Assistant vice president Shawn Helmbolt credits a variety of factors for the growth.

“We’ve been very intentional about trying to provide pathways for students to engage and understand the value that SDSU offers,” he said. “We have approximately 400 students in our first-time class from the Sioux Falls metro, and that increased by 10 percent, thanks to some very specific marketing and enrollment work but also initiatives like SDSU Connect, which is building relationships and bridges between SDSU and the Sioux Falls area to help serve the growing metro-area population.”

The top majors among the freshman class include nursing, business economics, mechanical engineering, animal science, exercise science, human biology, pharmacy and aviation. Newer degree programs on campus such as accounting and elementary and special education are contributing to overall growth too.

SDSU intentionally ensures prospective students have the opportunity to meet and get to know faculty and staff in the academic programs they’re interested in and fosters those relationships through a student’s college exploration and high school career.

“While they’re on campus exploring what SDSU has to offer, we’re helping them build those personal relationships, so they feel a sense of belonging and that they will be successful here,” Helmbolt said. “It’s a credit to the full SDSU community, administrators, faculty, and staff, for making recruitment and enrollment a priority in their work.”

Another key factor: affordability.

Ninety-eight percent of first-time students receive financial aid, plus with support from the state of South Dakota and the Board of Regents, tuition has been frozen for multiple years.

“Those two things combined – great scholarship support and frozen tuition – have created a great value for students looking at the cost of a degree and the return on investment,” Helmbolt said.

Additionally, SDSU broke a record for retention this year, with 83.8 percent of last year’s freshman class returning for a second year.

“We are very intentional about providing students support on campus through our student success initiatives, getting students connected with professional academic advising, offering academic supports and helping them find a sense of belonging here through almost 250 different clubs and organizations,” Helmbolt said.

The new freshmen this fall already are immersing themselves in such experiences.

Brink is in a pre-dental club and a pre-professional club on campus.

“Both of these clubs, specifically the dental club, have helped me to meet more people who have just the same goals I do,” she said.

Gies has broadened his horizons by joining a tennis club and a swing dance club.

“And I just went to the Student Expo, and there’s a million clubs. I signed up for a medical lab science club and enjoyed that; the people were nice,” he said. “Everyone I’ve met on campus is pretty chill, and there’s always something to do. The wellness center is really nice. In our residence hall, there’s a pool table, so my friends and I will go down there if we don’t have homework, and we talk and play pool, so there’s a lot of opportunities. It’s what you make of it.”

Andree has joined intramural teams – flag football has been a favorite part of freshman year so far – and also spends lots of time at the wellness center, as well as joining a youth ministry group.

“And I feel supported at SDSU,” he added. “The main advice I’d give others is reach out. If you don’t understand something, send an email. I’ve always gotten a response in a timely manner.”

Spier already has become involved in leadership on campus. She’s a senator-at-large for the Students’ Association, a member of Kappa Epsilon, morale leader for State-A-Thon and a member of the Feminist Equality Movement Club.

“I have filled up my plate very fast and am very busy,” she said. “However, joining these organizations has brought me closer with my passion for service, involvement and leadership. I have met so many new friends of all different walks of life and can’t wait for the opportunities yet to come.”