Fast Track Admission Pilot Program

The Fast Track Admission pilot program aims to help students easily transition from high school to college. By simplifying the traditional application process and assuring students that they have already met admissions criteria, the South Dakota public universities hope to reduce students’ anxiety around accessing college so they can focus on which university they want to attend based on their interests and financial aid opportunities.

What is Fast Track Admission?

Fast Track Admission is a new pilot* program in South Dakota that simplifies the college application process for South Dakota public universities based on students’ academic achievements.

Eligible students from participating districts receive a notification through US mail and email during the spring of their Junior year listing the universities where they could be directly admitted – without even having to apply! To participate, students must activate their Fast Track Admission by selecting their universities of interest on the Fast Track Activation Form provided with their notification or directly within their application for High School Dual Enrollment coursework (if they choose to take it). They do not need to complete a traditional admissions application for the universities they select.

High schools in three school districts—Aberdeen, Spearfish, and Sioux Falls — are participating in the Fast Track Admission pilot program. Only students enrolled in those participating high schools are eligible to participate. The program aims to expand
to additional South Dakota high schools in future years.

*Fast Track Admission is a three-year pilot program that began during the 2024-2025 school year and will run through 2026-2027.

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Coming Soon!

Statewide Fast Track Admission through High School Dual Enrollment

Starting April 2026, Junior students statewide who are applying for High School Dual Enrollment (HSDE) coursework will have the opportunity to activate their Fast Track Admission by selecting their SD public universities of interest directly within the application. Students who activate their Fast Track Admission will not need to complete a traditional admissions application for those universities.

Learn More about High School Dual Enrollment

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Participating Pilot Schools

Participating Universities

• Black Hills State University - Spearfish

Non-residential campuses

• Black Hills State University - Rapid City

Participating School Districts*

• Aberdeen School District
• Dakota State University - Madison
• University of South Dakota - Sioux Falls
•Sioux Falls School District
• Northern State University - Aberdeen
• Spearfish Falls School District
• South Dakota Mines - Rapid City
• South Dakota State University - Brookings

*Participation is expected to expand in future years.

• University of South Dakota - Vermillion

How can we help?

Let us know if you have ideas for new resources or advising tools that could help your students. Our Dakota Dreams is uniquely poised to be part of the solution.

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