2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked first and South Dakota State University ranked second for the best colleges in South Dakota. While liberal arts colleges are few and far between, students can find quality academic programs and a thriving social scene at South Dakota State University, the state’s largest institution. The oldest university in South Dakota, the University of South Dakota, was established in 1862, 27 years before South Dakota officially became a state. It’s also home to the only medical school and law school in the state. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology boasts one of the nation’s best engineering programs and one of the highest starting salary averages for graduates.

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#1 in South Dakota
Economic score 2.50

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,919

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,287

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#2 in South Dakota | #279 in National Universities

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

Economic score 3.70

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,578

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,845

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#3 in South Dakota | #337 in National Universities

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

Economic score 4.30

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,389

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,600

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 61%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#4 in South Dakota

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Economic score 4.31

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,066

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,137

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#5 in South Dakota

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, South Dakota

Economic score 4.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,929

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,864

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 57%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#6 in South Dakota

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Economic score 4.68

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,695

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $43,429

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#7 in South Dakota

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Economic score 5.05

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,662

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,803

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 64%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#8 in South Dakota

Mount Marty University

Yankton, South Dakota

Economic score 5.68

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,593

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $42,407

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota

Economic score 4.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,630

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $44,019

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 48%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

Economic score 6.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,961

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $39,963

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 44%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

Presentation College

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Economic score 8.05

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,730

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $39,800

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 47%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

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