University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

By | January 13, 2023

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is a four-year medical school located in Vermillion, South Dakota. It is the only medical school in the state and is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The school has a strong commitment to rural medicine and offers students an opportunity to study in a supportive and collaborative environment. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based medicine and interprofessional collaboration, with an emphasis on primary care and rural health care. The School of Medicine also offers a number of specialty programs, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry/psychology, radiation oncology, and surgery. Additionally, the school provides various research opportunities for students interested in academic medicine or clinical research.

Here we focus on key data about University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, including admissions profiles such as application fee, admissions decision dates, admissions statistics such as average MCAT/GPA scores, undergraduate majors, and national ranking information of University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Also covers in-state and out-of-state tuitions as well as scholarship and grant opportunities offered by University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. See best business schools in South Dakota.

Address: 1400 W. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Phone Number: (605) 677-6886
Email: usdsmsa@usd.edu
Website: http://www.usd.edu/med/md
Acronym & Abbreviation: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/usd_university-of-south-dakota.html

Admissions: University of South Dakota (Sanford)

Fall 2020 Admissions Information
Director of Admissions Dr. Paul C. Bunger
Application fee $35
AMCAS application accepted Yes
Early application deadline 06/01
Application deadline 11/15
Secondary application required Yes
Personal interview required Yes
Regular application acceptance notification begins 11/18
Regular application acceptance notification ends 03/15
Number of weeks within which students must respond to offers of admission 2
Deferred entrance available Yes
Deposit to hold place in class is due at the time of offer
Early decision plan for admission offered No
Early decision plan application period begins N/A
Early decision plan application period ends N/A
Early decision plan notification date N/A
Starting month for the class of 2020-2021 August
Fall 2018 Admissions Statistics
Total admissions data 641 applied, 170 interviewed, 77 were accepted, 54 enrolled
In-state admissions data 143 applied, 133 interviewed, 62 were accepted, 44 enrolled
Out-of-state admissions data 498 applied, 37 interviewed, 15 were accepted, 10 enrolled
Women’s admissions data 259 applied, 74 interviewed, 35 were accepted, 24 enrolled
Minority admissions data 137 applied, 8 interviewed, 2 were accepted, 2 enrolled
International admissions data 30 applied, 0 interviewed, 0 were accepted, 0 enrolled
Fall 2018 GPA and MCAT Scores
Average undergraduate GPA 3.77
Oldest MCAT considered 2007
Average MCAT score 9.8
Average biological MCAT score 10.3
Average physical sciences MCAT score 9.6
Average verbal reasoning MCAT score 9.4
Average writing MCAT score O
Undergraduate Majors
Required undergraduate coursework biology, organic chemistry, inorganic (general) chemistry, physics, mathematics
Percent of entering class with undergraduate major in biological science 42.0%
Percent of entering class with undergraduate major in physical science 10.0%
Percent of entering class with undergraduate major in social sciences/humanities 18.0%
Percent of entering class with undergraduate major in other health professions 3.0%
Percent of entering class with undergraduate major in mixed disciplines, double majors, and other areas of study 27.0%
Combined Degree Programs
Combined college/M.D. program offered No
Combined degree programs offered M.D./Ph.D.
Number of years to complete combined college/M.D. program N/A
Combined college/M.D. program URL N/A

Tuition & Financial Aid: University of South Dakota (Sanford)

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD-SSOM) offers a variety of tuition and financial aid options for students. Tuition for the MD program is $55,972 per year for in-state students and $71,878 per year for out-of-state students. This includes tuition, fees, and health insurance. USD-SSOM also offers several scholarship and loan programs to help defray the cost of tuition. The school participates in the federal Direct Loan program, which provides low interest loans to eligible students. Additionally, the school offers merit scholarships based on academic performance and other criteria such as leadership experiences or community service. These scholarships range from $500 to full tuition coverage depending on the student’s qualifications. USD-SSOM also has a need-based scholarship program to assist with tuition expenses for qualified applicants with demonstrated financial need. Finally, the school participates in several state grant programs that provide additional funding opportunities to South Dakota residents who demonstrate financial need.

Financial Aid Contact Information
Financial aid director Carol Hemmingson
Financial aid phone (605) 677-5112
2018-2019 Tuition and Fees
2018-2019 Tuition In-state: $15,281, Out-of-state: $36,603
Required fees $4,484
Room and board $20,456
2018-2019 Financial Aid
Percent of students receiving any financial aid 99%
Percent of students receiving loans 89%
Percent of students receiving grants/scholarships 87%
Percent of students receiving work study 0%
Average indebtedness for 2007 graduates who incurred medical school debt $124,732

Ranking: University of South Dakota (Sanford)

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is consistently ranked in the top tier of medical schools in the United States. The school has been rated highly for its research output and its educational programs, including its medical education program. In particular, it has been recognized as one of the best medical schools for primary care education, ranking in the top 10% according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 rankings. It is also highly ranked for its rural medicine program and its commitment to providing quality healthcare to underserved populations through community-based initiatives. Additionally, the school has been acknowledged for its strong emphasis on patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, with a focus on interprofessional learning and team-based approaches to clinical practice. Furthermore, USD Sanford School of Medicine is well known for its robust clinical research enterprise, with multiple centers and institutes dedicated to advancing knowledge in various areas such as cancer biology and cardiovascular diseases.

Research Ranking
Research score N/A
Research peer assessment score (5.0 highest) 2.2
Research assessment score by residency directors (5.0 highest) 2.5
Total amount of NIH funds granted to medical school and affiliated hospitals (in millions of dollars) $11.1
2018 NIH research grants per faculty member (in thousands) $37.1
Primary Care Rankings
Primary care score N/A
Primary-care peer assessment score 2.8
Primary-care assessment score by residency directors 3.1
Average 2016, 2017, and 2018 graduates entering primary-care specialties 34.6%
Ranking Admission Statistics
Average undergraduate GPA 3.77
Average MCAT score 9.8
Acceptance rate 12.0%
Full-time faculty / student ratio 1.4
Total medical school enrollment 210

University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine