Best Colleges in South Dakota

The higher education experts at BestColleges.com reviewed the top 4-year colleges in South Dakota. Start planning your future at BestColleges.com
Jennifer Lee
By
Updated October 30, 2024
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South Dakota is the 17th-largest state in the U.S. by area but houses the nation’s fifth-smallest state population. Its economy is driven by three major industries: service, agriculture, and tourism. People travel great distances to take in state and national parks, such as the iconic Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, as well as other attractions in the Black HIlls region.

Compared to national averages, South Dakota boasts a relatively low cost of living and a low unemployment rate. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of South Dakota’s most popular occupations — by number of employees — include registered nurses, bookkeepers and accounting clerks, and customer service representatives.

Pursuing a college degree is a great way for individuals of all ages to increase their skills and overall employability, but choosing which school to attend can feel like an overwhelming task. South Dakota offers a diverse system of public, private, religious, and nonsectarian institutions of higher education, and each school features its own notable strengths and characteristics.

To help simplify your decision-making process, we’ve compiled the top 10 accredited colleges in South Dakota. Read on to learn more about campus culture, admission requirements, and program offerings at each school to determine which best suits your needs.

In this Article
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Best Accredited Colleges in South Dakota

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
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How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

BestColleges Top-Ranked-2024 Badge
  • Affordability (30%)
  • Student outcomes (30%)
  • Reputation (20%)
  • Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

#1

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD4 yearCampus + Online

$36,332

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,332

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

13%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$36,952

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,952

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,158

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,332

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,332

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,332

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,332

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

13%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$36,952

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,952

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,158

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#2

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,283

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

99%

Acceptance Rate

58%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,123

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,773

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

9,868

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,283

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,283

Acceptance Rate

99%

Online Enrollment

58%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,123

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,773

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

9,868

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,283

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

86%

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,164

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,697

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

11,340

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,283

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,773

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,283

Acceptance Rate

86%

Online Enrollment

50%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,164

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,697

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

11,340

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD4 yearCampus + Online

$28,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

48%

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,500

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

1,314

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,900

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,900

Acceptance Rate

48%

Online Enrollment

41%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,500

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

1,314

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#5

Sinte Gleska University

Mission, SD4 yearCampus

$4,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$1,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$1,500

Retention Rate

100%

Students Enrolled

544

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,200

Sinte Gleska University

Mission, SD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,200

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

74%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$1,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$1,500

Retention Rate

100%

Students Enrolled

544

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

Dakota State University

Madison, SD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,718

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

80%

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,999

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,199

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

3,241

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,718

Dakota State University

Madison, SD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,718

Acceptance Rate

80%

Online Enrollment

77%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,999

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,199

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

3,241

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Oglala Lakota College

Kyle, SD4 yearCampus

$2,016

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$2,016

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

69%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$2,070

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,070

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

1,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$2,016

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,016

Oglala Lakota College

Kyle, SD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$2,016

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,016

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

69%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$2,070

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,070

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

1,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD2 yearCampus + Online

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,718

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

93%

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,999

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,199

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

3,521

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,718

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,718

Acceptance Rate

93%

Online Enrollment

63%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,999

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,199

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

3,521

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD2 yearCampus + Online

$8,763

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,865

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

97%

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,998

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,931

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,425

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,763

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,865

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,763

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,865

Acceptance Rate

97%

Online Enrollment

65%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,998

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,931

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,425

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD2 yearCampus + Online

$19,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,200

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,200

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

1,594

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,940

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,940

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

65%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,200

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,200

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

1,594

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

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