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Yes — University of South Dakota hosts Army ROTC on campus through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion). Students from 1 partner school also join it cross-town.
Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) · Coyote
The Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) commissions U.S. Army officers at University of South Dakota.
About this program
Headquartered on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion, Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) is the local accession point into the U.S. Army.
Sister-school participation is a real piece of this battalion. Cadets from Mount Marty University, Augustana University, and Dakota Wesleyan University contract through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) and travel to University of South Dakota for the military-side requirements while keeping their core degree at the partner.
On the scholarship side: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) are all live channels at Coyote Battalion (Vermillion). Academically, University of South Dakota is well-regarded for international affairs and language study — a track that pairs well with ROTC's emphasis on technical and leadership majors.
Scholarships at this unit
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
Covers full tuition and fees OR room and board (your choice), plus a $420/month stipend (10 months/yr) and $1,200/yr book allowance. Merit-based board score with PT assessment and SAT/ACT. Application opened June 14, 2026; final deadline to start an application is March 4, 2027. Three selection boards (Oct, Jan, Mar). 8-year total service obligation; you can exit after freshman year with no obligation.
Service obligation: 8 years
Cross-town and partner schools
Students at these schools can join Coyote Battalion (Vermillion). They travel to University of South Dakota for training.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of South Dakota.
Contact this unit
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Use the phone number or official site below if we have one. If not, look for the Army ROTC program on the University of South Dakota website. If you know the unit's email, tell us and we will add it.
Location: University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
Army ROTC FAQ
Does University of South Dakota have Army ROTC?
Yes — University of South Dakota hosts Army ROTC on campus through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion). Students from 1 partner school also join it cross-town.
Is Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) a host unit or cross-town?
Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) is the host unit, based at University of South Dakota. Students at 1 partner school join it cross-town and train at University of South Dakota.
Where is Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) located?
Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) is hosted at University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of South Dakota campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Coyote Battalion (Vermillion)?
In addition to University of South Dakota, students enrolled at Mount Marty University, Augustana University, and Dakota Wesleyan University can contract through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion)?
Army ROTC cadets at this battalion compete for AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the Army ROTC summer training for cadets at Coyote Battalion (Vermillion)?
After the MS-III year, cadets ship to Cadet Summer Training (Advanced Camp) at Fort Knox for the 31-day capstone evaluation that drives branching and order-of-merit standing.
Can students at other schools join Coyote Battalion (Vermillion)?
Yes. Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) takes cross-town and partner students from 1 other school, including Mount Marty University. See the cross-town section above for distances and how to enroll.
Can I commission through Coyote Battalion (Vermillion) as any major?
Army programs take students from most majors at University of South Dakota. Some scholarships and commissioning options require a specific major, such as nursing, engineering, or a foreign language. Ask the unit before you declare a major.
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