The University of South Dakota is a public research university founded in 1862 — the oldest university in South Dakota — located in the small city of Vermillion, on the bluffs above the Missouri River near the Nebraska border. USD serves about 10,000 students and is home to the state's only law school and medical school. The Coyotes compete in the Missouri Valley Conference and the school is known for its strong programs in law, health sciences, business, and fine arts.