Safety Score
2.09 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Brookings, SD · Clery Act 2023 · Public
South Dakota State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 11,498-student campus.
- 2.09
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,029
- Rank of 3,050
- #14
- SD rank
- 11,498
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
South Dakota State University reports 2.09 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,029 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 65% of ranked campuses its size.
- 2.09
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,029
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 65%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 18
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
South Dakota State University increased from 9 to 18 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesSouth Dakota State University is a Public institution located in Brookings, SD, enrolling approximately 11,498 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 38 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within SD, it ranks #14 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 11,498 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at South Dakota State University is "Fondling" with 15 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in SD averaging 3.11 incidents per 1,000 students, South Dakota State University reports 33% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#2029
See peer comparison
State Rank (SD)
#14
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
18
across 11 crime categories
Where South Dakota State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
2 safer than 35% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
South Dakota State University percentile rank 33.5%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2029 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
South Dakota State University reports 33% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $9,299
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $12,809
- Avg Net Price
- $19,841
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 17%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- SAT Math Range
- 530–630
- ACT Average
- 22
- ACT Range
- 19–25
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 61%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $49,564
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $55,070
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 89%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlySouth Dakota State University: on-campus incidents by year
Rising 64% (11 → 18 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Fondling | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 30 | 1 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 164 | 92 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 20 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 165 | 79 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 2 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 25 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 186 | 180 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
South Dakota State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
SD
South Dakota State University
2.09 incidents / 1,000 students
PR
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
0.96 incidents / 1,000 students
RI
Brown University
7.55 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR · 11,493 enrolled
Safety Score 0.96
Brown University
Providence, RI · 11,516 enrolled
Safety Score 7.55
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · 11,519 enrolled
Safety Score 5.04
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA · 11,472 enrolled
Safety Score 1.92
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · 11,471 enrolled
Safety Score 0.09
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest South Dakota State University nationally (rank #2029), regardless of size or state.
University of Advancing Technology
Tempe, AZ
National Rank #2028
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA
National Rank #2030
Anderson University
Anderson, SC
National Rank #2027
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA
National Rank #2031
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
National Rank #2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Dakota State University safe?
South Dakota State University has a safety score of 2.09 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,029 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at South Dakota State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does South Dakota State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in SD.
Does South Dakota State University have fire safety data?
Yes. South Dakota State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding South Dakota State University's Safety Profile
South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD enrolls 11,498 students and has a safety score of 2.09 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2029 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 9 in 2022 to 18 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.
What this means for you
South Dakota State University's 2.09 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh South Dakota State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.