Colleges in South Dakota
13 colleges in South Dakota that award bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates: 9 public and 4 private. Among colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, the lowest average net price is at Northern State University ($15,812 a year after grants). Numbers are averages for students receiving federal aid; open a school to see what a family at your income pays.
| College | City | Type | Undergrads | Acceptance | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls | Private | 1,965 | 68% | $23,894 | 73% | $59,217 |
| Black Hills State University | Spearfish | Public | 1,928 | 96% | $15,911 | 43% | $46,674 |
| Dakota State University | Madison | Public | 2,071 | 88% | $21,057 | 51% | $50,970 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell | Private | 670 | 73% | $19,735 | 48% | $53,728 |
| Mount Marty University | Yankton | Private | 697 | 43% | $22,227 | 52% | $48,179 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen | Public | 1,273 | 93% | $15,812 | 49% | $47,618 |
| Oglala Lakota College | Kyle | PublicBachelor's & associate · 34% bachelor's | 1,097 | — | $1,895 | 9% | $22,517 |
| Sinte Gleska University | Mission | PublicBachelor's & associate · 48% bachelor's | 487 | — | $12,768 | 15% | $20,948 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | Sisseton | PublicBachelor's & associate · 27% bachelor's | 194 | — | $2,977 | 21% | $31,546 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City | Public | 2,071 | 80% | $20,183 | 53% | $72,257 |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings | Public | 9,198 | 98% | $19,841 | 62% | $55,070 |
| University of Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | Private | 1,218 | 83% | $21,383 | 63% | $54,521 |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion | Public | 5,439 | 99% | $19,858 | 60% | $51,926 |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, latest reported year. Graduation within 6 years; earnings are the median 10 years after starting college.
Best value in South Dakota for your income
The South Dakota colleges that pay back fastest for a family at your income: what it costs to finish after grants, set against how much more former students earn than high school graduates in South Dakota. Pick your income.
| # | College | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Earnings, 10 yrs | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyPublic, in-state price | $18,366 | $85,035 | $72,257 | 2.3 |
| 2 | Augustana UniversityPrivate | $17,937 | $76,053 | $59,217 | 3.2 |
| 3 | Dakota Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $15,927 | $65,619 | $53,728 | 3.7 |
| 4 | University of Sioux FallsPrivate | $17,992 | $75,207 | $54,521 | 4.0 |
| 5 | South Dakota State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $18,073 | $78,075 | $55,070 | 4.1 |
| 6 | University of South DakotaPublic, in-state price | $18,540 | $78,610 | $51,926 | 4.9 |
| 7 | Dakota State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $19,165 | $82,026 | $50,970 | 5.4 |
| 8 | Northern State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $15,293 | $68,513 | $47,618 | 5.8 |
| 9 | Black Hills State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $15,588 | $69,834 | $46,674 | 6.4 |
| 10 | Mount Marty UniversityPrivate | $23,669 | $99,410 | $48,179 | 8.0 |
Colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, ranked by years of earnings gain needed to repay the cost to finish at this income. Cost to finish = net price after grants × the average years graduates took (IPEDS). Earnings gain = former students' median earnings 10 years after starting (College Scorecard) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in South Dakota (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
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