According to INDEXDOTCOM, South Dakota is located in the Midwestern United States, with a landscape that ranges from rolling hills and plains, to the Badlands and Black Hills. It has several large rivers, including the Missouri River, which forms its eastern border. The state is home to the highest peak in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains – Black Elk Peak at 7,242 feet – as well as two of the world’s largest caves – Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. South Dakota’s climate is temperate with hot summers and cold winters. The state experiences all four seasons, but temperatures can vary greatly depending on location. The western part of South Dakota is generally drier than eastern parts of the state due to its location in the Great Plains region. According to SIMPLYYELLOWPAGES, South Dakota is home to six public universities, all of which are part of the South Dakota Board of Regents system. The state’s flagship institution is the University of South Dakota (USD), located in Vermillion. USD offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of fields, including business, education, health sciences, engineering and law. The other five public universities in South Dakota are: South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings; Black Hills State University (BHSU) in Spearfish; Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen; Dakota State University (DSU) in Madison; and the School of Mines & Technology (SD Mines) in Rapid City. Each university offers a unique set of degree programs that focus on different areas such as business, engineering, liberal arts and sciences, nursing and health sciences. Additionally, each university also offers online degree programs for students who cannot attend classes on campus. In addition to its public universities, South Dakota also has several private colleges and universities such as Augustana College and the University of Sioux Falls. These institutions offer a wide range of academic programs from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees.