South Dakota State University
South Dakota | Brookings
Important Information
Quick Facts
Accreditation
Both our Landscape Architecture and Studio Art degrees hold accreditation, affirming their quality and adherence to national standards.
Affiliation
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Gender Preference
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School Size
Enrollment – Fall 2025 Total Enrollment – 12,139
Classroom Size
15-25
Student/Teacher Ratio
16:1
Parking Spaces Availability
Student and visitor parking are both widely available.
School Rankings
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Community at a Glance
Ranked the No. 9 best college town in the Midwest by RentCafe (2025), Brookings (pop. 25,031) is just 55 miles north of Sioux Falls on Interstate 29, 200 miles from Minneapolis and 400 miles east of Rapid City and the Black Hills. Students from communities in Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa also find SDSU within an easy day’s drive.
You can look up Tuition and Fees on the South Dakota State University website.
South Dakota State University has an Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
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Art and design elevate everything. We initiate and engage in conversations that shape creative practices and enhance our understanding of art and design. This exchange enriches the way we live and work. We challenge limits and nurture confidence as we transform our students, ourselves and our communities.
Inspiring Creative Communities: The unique composition of South Dakota State University's School of Design unites the visual arts and the built environment. We are equal partners in weaving dialogue and collaboration across everything we do. This dynamic coexistence empowers us to be agile and innovative.
Established in 2015, the South Dakota State University School of Design unites Studio Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture within a collaborative academic framework. With dedicated leadership and a director appointed in 2018, the School continues to strengthen interdisciplinary education and creative scholarship.
In 2020, the School implemented a vertical common core curriculum spanning all four years. This model enhances student retention, fosters cross-disciplinary engagement, and aligns faculty teaching with areas of expertise, culminating in a senior capstone experience.
The vertical common core represents a strategic, long-term investment in academic excellence, student success, and the future growth of the School of Design.
Landscape Architecture at South Dakota State University has evolved from a small horticulture option, first introduced in 1954, into a fully accredited professional program. Over the decades, the discipline grew in scope, gaining dedicated faculty, student organizations, and purpose-built studio spaces, while becoming an established academic program within the university. The creation of the School of Design in 2015 unified Landscape Architecture with other design disciplines and marked the launch of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree.
The program’s rapid success included national student recognition and steady progress toward professional accreditation. In 2020, SDSU achieved full accreditation from the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB)—a milestone that affirms the program meets national standards, enhances its reputation, and ensures graduates are well-prepared for licensure and professional practice.
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We welcome international students. International Admissions
Landscape Architecture is the art of design, planning, and management of outdoor spaces for human use and habitation. Cultural and scientific knowledge are applied tothe use and arrangement of natural and man-made elements with concern for resource conservation, stewardship, and the environment. Graduates work in a wide variety of areas in the landscape industry, as designers and planners in public and private practice, and as environmental designera and manages.
Frequently Asked Questions
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