About the Program
Get your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) in the Black Hills of South Dakota by receiving South Dakota State University's (SDSU) high-quality nursing education in Rapid City. The standard B.S.N. program, which we also offer at our Brookings main campus and our Sioux Falls site, is a four-year nursing program.
At the Rapid City site, pre-nursing students apply to the professional nursing major in the fall or spring semester, once all prerequisite courses are completed or in progress. The professional nursing major coursework can be completed in five semesters (or two and one half years).
Students take coursework and participate in lecture, on-campus labs and clinical rotations in Rapid City and surrounding communities. Classes meet at Black Hills State University (BHSU), Rapid City campus. Simulation skills lab and simulation experiences are held at the Monument Health Sciences building.
Nursing students in Rapid City can take advantage of the West River Health Science Center, a unique partnership between BHSU, SDSU and Monument Health. Through this partnership, students start at BHSU to take their general education and pre-nursing curriculum, earn their Associate of Applied Health Science degree and then seamlessly transition into the nursing major at SDSU. Through this partnership, all the courses needed to earn a B.S.N. can be taken on-site in Rapid City. An added benefit is that students who start with BHSU and earn the required G.P.A. for admission to the nursing major are guaranteed admission to the nursing program.
Our students in Rapid City can also opt to take their prerequisite courses in Brookings and apply to the professional nursing major at our Rapid City site. No matter where students take their prerequisite courses, they apply for admission to SDSU and receive their nursing degree from SDSU.
We also offer a 12-month accelerated program in Rapid City.
Main Information
Before applying to the professional nursing major, please keep in mind that students must:
- Apply for general admission to the university (if you are not already an SDSU student).
- Complete the prerequisite courses, listed on the curriculum plan.
- Meet the technical standards and eligibility requirements.
Please contact an academic advisor before applying or registering for classes to ensure courses are completed in the appropriate sequence.
The application to the standard B.S.N. program in Rapid City is available on the application page, about a month prior to the application deadline. The application deadline for fall admission is February 25. The application deadline for spring admission is September 25. Any changes or updates to these deadlines can be found on the application page. Check out the application checklist for more details about the process.
Tuition Information
Price per credit
| State | Price Per Credit | Est. curriculum cost |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Residents | $408 | $48,960 |
South Dakota Advantage | $408 | $48,960 |
| Non-Resident | $525 | $63,000 |
Minnesota Reciprocity | $458 | $54,960 |
» Estimated cost is based on 2023-2024 BOR tuition/fees.
» Additional costs will be incurred throughout the B.S.N. program, including but not limited to textbooks, background checks, AIT bundle, etc.
Financial Aid
SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.
Students admitted to the professional nursing major must:
- Purchase a laptop computer that meets our computer requirement (unless you already have one).
- Complete the undergraduate nursing compliance requirements.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a Visit!
If you're looking for a close-knit, supportive community, professors with firsthand experience and simulation labs with state-of-the-art technology, schedule a visit. You'll love what you see.
Let's Talk!
Our Nursing Student Services team is ready to help you find a path to meet your nursing goals. Fill out this online form and our staff will get back to you as soon as possible to answer your questions.
