US CollegesColleges in South Dakota: cost, admission and results
20 degree-granting colleges and universities in South Dakota, with the admission rate, net price, graduation rate and earnings of each. The largest are South Dakota State University (9,198 undergraduates), University of South Dakota (5,439 undergraduates), Southeast Technical College (2,310 undergraduates).
South Dakota at a glance
- Colleges on this site
- 20
- Public / private nonprofit / for-profit
- 13 / 5 / 2
- Median in-state tuition and fees
- $9,554
- Median net price a year
- $19,307
- Median admission rate
- 85%
- Median graduation rate
- 56%
- Median earnings 10 years on
- $51,637
No college in this list matches.
| College | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit | 68% | $23,283 | 73% | $61,271 |
| Black Hills State UniversitySpearfish, SD · Public | 96% | $19,252 | 42% | $49,283 |
| California Intercontinental UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dakota State UniversityMadison, SD · Public | 88% | $20,554 | 49% | $53,378 |
| Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Private nonprofit | 73% | $24,039 | 54% | $57,757 |
| Kairos UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit | 85% | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD · Public | not reported | $15,278 | 76% | $48,729 |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD · Public | not reported | $9,749 | 79% | $51,994 |
| Mount Marty UniversityYankton, SD · Private nonprofit | 43% | $21,395 | 63% | $52,585 |
| National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD · Private for-profit | not reported | $31,654 | 33% | $38,663 |
| Northern State UniversityAberdeen, SD · Public | 93% | $15,279 | 52% | $51,006 |
| Oglala Lakota CollegeKyle, SD · Public | not reported | $1,431 | 7% | $24,373 |
| Sinte Gleska UniversityMission, SD · Public | not reported | $4,047 | 6% | $27,113 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeSisseton, SD · Public | not reported | $3,110 | 11% | $30,641 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, SD · Public | 80% | $20,827 | 52% | $78,487 |
| South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · Public | 98% | $19,362 | 62% | $58,802 |
| Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD · Public | not reported | $15,616 | 61% | $51,280 |
| University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit | 83% | $21,417 | 64% | $59,404 |
| University of South DakotaVermillion, SD · Public | 99% | $20,028 | 60% | $58,316 |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD · Public | not reported | $11,390 | 58% | $46,591 |
"Not reported" means the Department of Education has no figure, often because the college is small, new, or does not take first-time students. Medians are the middle value of the colleges listed here.
The colleges of South Dakota in brief
Of the 20 colleges listed for South Dakota, 13 are public, 5 are private nonprofit and 2 are private for-profit. By level, 12 mainly award bachelor's degrees and 8 mainly award two-year associate degrees. Together they teach about 35,170 undergraduates, 84% of them at public colleges. The three largest, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota and Southeast Technical College, hold 48% of the total, and the middle-sized college has 1,158 undergraduates. The towns with the most colleges are Sioux Falls (5), Rapid City (3) and Mitchell (2).
What college costs in South Dakota
At the public colleges, the median published tuition and fees are $8,526 a year for students from South Dakota. At the private nonprofit colleges the median is $34,540. Published prices are not what most families pay. Counting colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the lowest average net price after grants is at Oglala Lakota College ($1,431) and Sinte Gleska University ($4,047) and the highest at National American University-Rapid City ($31,654) and Dakota Wesleyan University ($24,039). The median net price across the state, $19,307, is 11% above the national median of $17,357.
Getting in
11 of the 20 colleges report an admission rate. The hardest to get into are Mount Marty University (43% admitted), Augustana University (68% admitted) and Dakota Wesleyan University (73% admitted). 9 of them admit at least seven applicants in ten. 9 colleges have an open admission policy and report no rate: they do not turn applicants away on grades or test scores.
Finishing and earning
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the highest share of students finishing their course is at Mitchell Technical College (79%), Lake Area Technical College (76%) and Augustana University (73%). The median graduation rate of the state's colleges is 56%, against 49% for the country. Ten years after starting, former students with federal aid earn the most at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($78,487), Augustana University ($61,271) and University of Sioux Falls ($59,404). The state median for that measure is $51,637, about the same as the national $53,132. Students who finish leave with a median federal loan debt of $21,802 (national median $19,994). Earnings follow the subjects a college teaches as much as its quality, so compare like with like.
Questions about colleges in South Dakota
How many colleges are there in South Dakota?
This site lists 20 open, degree-granting colleges and universities in South Dakota, out of 3,161 on the whole site. Schools that mainly give short certificates are not counted.
What is the largest college in South Dakota?
South Dakota State University in Brookings, with about 9,198 undergraduate students.
Which college in South Dakota has the lowest net price?
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, Oglala Lakota College: students with federal aid paid an average of $1,431 a year after grants. Students from other states or countries usually pay more.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.