Best Online Colleges in South Dakota

The higher education experts at BestColleges have reviewed top online colleges in South Dakota. Start planning your future at BestColleges.

Updated February 28, 2025

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Finding a school to fit your budget, schedule, and career goals can prove challenging. Finding one within driving distance within the spacious borders of South Dakota can prove doubly so. Fortunately, the Mount Rushmore state offers several online learning options, and rankings like the one below can help make your school search easier.

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In this Article

Best Online 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.

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:

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Online Colleges in South Dakota

Detailed below are some of the best online colleges in South Dakota, including their relative strengths and features, distance programs, and admissions processes. Additionally, all of the schools in this list hold regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Online and on-campus programs deliver the same content and teach the same skills. However, online programs typically offer greater flexibility and affordability for self-motivated and organized students. Online courses enable you to complete assignments on your schedule and eliminate the need to travel to or live on campus. In many cases, students can continue working while completing an online degree. Colleges often design their online programs for working adults seeking to advance their careers or enter a new profession.

Job-seekers in South Dakota can expect to join a growing labor force and take advantage of a below-average unemployment rate of 2.1% (as of March 2024). Degree-holders with a bachelor’s or above, meanwhile, see an astonishingly low rate of only 0.9%. Dominant and still-expanding nonfarm industries in South Dakota are related to trade, government, and education and health services. The latter two fields have demonstrated an upward trend for the past two decades.

South Dakota ranks in the top 5 for growth in both gross domestic product (GDP) and personal income. The professional and business services industry experienced a GDP growth and employment growth, largely fueled by a 7.4% growth in Business and Financial Operations jobs offering average annual salaries of $76,980. Additionally, eastern South Dakota ranks as one of the highest-paying nonmetropolitan areas for general and operations managers, who earn average wages of $144,880. This area also offers a below-average cost of living.

Click here to see the best campus colleges in South Dakota.