Tribal land-grant university serving the Sicangu Oyate through Lakota-centered higher education.
Sinte Gleska University offers a comprehensive range of programs through seven academic departments: Arts and Sciences, Great Plains Art Institute, Business, Education, Human Services, Lakota Studies, and Institute of Technologies (vocational/career education). The university emphasizes an educational philosophy that promotes and preserves Lakol Wicohan (the traditional Lakota way of life). Programs include associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, certificates, and vocational training. The Great Plains Art Institute offers AA and BA degrees in art and a BAAE degree in art education. The university has partnered with Red Crow Community College and Old Sun Community College in Alberta, Canada, to offer a master's degree in education with emphasis in early childhood special education.
Located in Mission, South Dakota, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, the university serves a rural campus setting. Student services include a library, bookstore, childcare facilities, disability services, distance learning options, financial aid, academic counseling, and transportation. The university hosts the Heritage Center and organizes cultural events including Founders Week Celebration and Wacipi (powwow). Student demographics reflect the university's mission: 93% of undergraduates identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, with 52% classified as low-income.
The university maintains open enrollment policies and offers a Net Price Calculator on its website to help prospective students understand costs. The institution welcomes both traditional and non-traditional students, including those pursuing GED completion and adult basic education. Admissions information and class schedules are available through the registrar's office.
Sinte Gleska University's mission is to build a healthy, resilient tribal nation through Wolakota (peace/harmony), self-determination, lifelong learning, and visionary leadership. The university strengthens the Sicangu Nation through higher education opportunities that promote indigenous models of teaching, research in tribal economic development, and use of the Lakota language. The institution serves geographically isolated populations who have limited access to higher education elsewhere.