POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Is South Dakota’s public university enrollment higher than pre-pandemic levels?
The Claim A viral claim circulating on social media and in news outlets, including KOTA Territory News, asserts that South Dakota’s public university enrollment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The...
The Claim
A viral claim circulating on social media and in news outlets, including KOTA Territory News, asserts that South Dakota’s public university enrollment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The claim gained traction after a fact brief titled "Is SD’s public university enrollment higher than pre-pandemic levels?" was published, which appeared to be sourced from Google News Fact Check. The specific statement in question was shared widely on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, often accompanied by infographics suggesting a significant increase in student numbers.
The claim originated from a seemingly credible source, though the exact author or institution behind the original content remains unclear. The post included references to recent enrollment figures from South Dakota’s public institutions, such as the University of South Dakota (USD) and South Dakota State University (SDSU), with implied comparisons to the 2019-2020 academic year, which marked the start of the pandemic. This sparked public debate about the state of higher education in South Dakota and whether the claim reflects an upward trend in enrollment despite the disruptions caused by the global health crisis.
The Details & Investigation
According to data released by the South Dakota Board of Regents, the state’s public university system includes USD, SDSU, and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T). The most recent enrollment statistics available are for the 2023-2024 academic year, which were published in early 2024. These figures show that total enrollment across the three institutions stood at approximately 25,600 students, compared to 24,700 students in the 2019-2020 academic year. At first glance, this suggests a modest increase of around 3.6% in total enrollment.
However, upon closer examination, several factors must be considered. First, the 2019-2020 academic year was not fully completed due to the abrupt transition to remote learning in March 2020, which may have affected enrollment reporting. Second, the 2020-2021 academic year saw a decline in enrollment across many institutions nationwide, including South Dakota’s public universities, due to the uncertainty and financial strain caused by the pandemic. Enrollment dropped to 23,800 in 2020-2021, before gradually recovering in subsequent years.
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Furthermore, the claim appears to conflate total enrollment with full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, which is a more accurate measure of institutional capacity and resource allocation. While total headcount may have increased slightly, FTE enrollment—which accounts for part-time students—actually declined in some years. Additionally, the claim lacks context regarding demographic shifts, such as the growing number of online and hybrid courses, which may have influenced how enrollment is measured and reported.
Given the lack of clear attribution to a specific university or official report, and the potential for misinterpretation of enrollment data, the claim falls into the category of MISINFORMATION. It appears to be a well-intentioned but incomplete analysis rather than a coordinated disinformation campaign. However, the way it was presented—without proper caveats or detailed methodology—could mislead the public into believing that enrollment has significantly rebounded, when in fact the recovery has been gradual and uneven.
The Verdict
Based on the available data and official reports from the South Dakota Board of Regents, the claim that South Dakota’s public university enrollment is higher than pre-pandemic levels is partially accurate but lacks sufficient context to be fully reliable. Total headcount enrollment has increased slightly since 2019, but this does not necessarily reflect a full recovery or a significant surge in student numbers. Moreover, the claim fails to account for changes in enrollment measurement, the impact of the pandemic on reporting, and the nuances of FTE versus total headcount.
Therefore, the claim is best categorized as MISLEADING. While there has been a modest increase in enrollment, the phrasing of the claim could be interpreted as suggesting a more substantial or consistent growth than what the data supports. Without additional context, the statement risks distorting the public understanding of higher education trends in South Dakota.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
