2023 South Dakota Colleges Comparison
In South Dakota, twenty-eight colleges are active and serve higher education to students. By school types, there are twelve public schools and sixteen private schools. By school levels, seventeen 4-years (or high) schools, eleven 2-4 years schools (community colleges), and less than 2 years schools (career, technical or vocational schools) are active this year based on the IPEDS data.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees at South Dakota colleges is $11,767 for state residents and $12,633 for out-of-state students in 2023. The graduate tuition & fee is $11,069 for state residents and $13,252 for out-of-state students. A total of 1,801 students enrolled in South Dakota colleges including 1,577 undergraduate and 505 graduate students.
South Dakota College Overview
Of the twenty-eight South Dakota schools, Dakota State University ranked first and South Dakota State University ranked second (view more at South Dakota college rankings). The 2023 average tuition & fees of all South Dakota colleges is $11,767 for South Dakota residents and $12,633 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 80.42% and the average SAT score is 1,086. The average number of students is 1,801 and the average student to faculty ratio is 12 to 1.
The below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for South Dakota colleges. For the statistics, we include only 4-years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges. In addition, for some statistics, we include only eligible colleges, for example, for the graduate tuition & fees over colleges that offer the graduate programs.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees are $12,633 and Augustana University has the highest tuition & fees of $37,342 and Oglala Lakota College has the lowest tuition & fees of $2,684.
- The average graduate tuition & fees are $13,252 and Augustana University has the highest tuition & fees of $37,962 and Sinte Gleska University has the lowest tuition & fees of $2,008.
- The average SAT score is 1,086 and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has the highest SAT score of 1,255 and Mount Marty University has the lowest score of 930.
- The average acceptance rate is 80.42% and Sioux Falls Seminary has the tightest (lowest) rate of 62% and Black Hills State University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 97%.
- The average student population is 1,801 and South Dakota State University has the most students of 11,465 and National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension has the fewest students of 65.
- The average graduation rate is 54.76% and Augustana University has the highest rate of 71% and Oglala Lakota College has the lowest rate of 9%.
2023 South Dakota Colleges
The following table lists colleges located in South Dakota ordered by college ranking. The ranking is targeting only 4-years universities and colleges. The "-" value in other columns means that the corresponding data has not been reported or the school does not have programs for the values.
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using the buttons below.
| College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University Madison, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $12,735 | $11,931 | 1,123 | 85.6% | 3,219 | 47% | 18 to 1 |
| South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $12,809 | $16,917 | 1,100 | 87.4% | 11,465 | 60% | 17 to 1 |
| University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $12,942 | $12,768 | 1,170 | 87.0% | 9,464 | 60% | 14 to 1 |
| Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $12,100 | $15,849 | 1,060 | 97.3% | 3,539 | 42% | 17 to 1 |
| Northern State University Aberdeen, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $11,947 | $11,936 | 1,105 | 79.8% | 3,340 | 48% | 16 to 1 |
| University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $20,290 | $7,200 | - | 76.7% | 1,625 | 58% | 17 to 1 |
| Mount Marty University Yankton, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $31,500 | $9,995 | 930 | 67.4% | 1,236 | 61% | 12 to 1 |
| Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD Public, 2-4 years | $7,650 | - | - | 0.0% | 2,381 | 55% | 12 to 1 |
| Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Sioux Falls, SD Private, 2-4 years | $2,600 | - | - | 0.0% | 24 | - | 12 to 1 |
| National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $6,675 | - | - | 0.0% | 65 | - | 15 to 1 |
| Sioux Falls Seminary Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $3,600 | $3,600 | - | 62.1% | 739 | - | 2 to 1 |
| Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $2,684 | $2,518 | - | 0.0% | 1,451 | 9% | 12 to 1 |
| Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Yankton, SD Private, 2-4 years | $2,500 | - | - | 0.0% | 17 | - | 11 to 1 |
| Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $37,342 | $37,962 | 1,160 | 71.8% | 2,022 | 71% | 11 to 1 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $31,890 | $15,300 | 980 | 75.7% | 926 | 55% | 12 to 1 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD Public, 2-4 years | $4,330 | - | - | 0.0% | 140 | 22% | 7 to 1 |
| Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD Public, 2-4 years | $6,718 | - | - | 0.0% | 2,190 | 74% | 17 to 1 |
| Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD Private, 2-4 years | $13,200 | - | - | 0.0% | 131 | 88% | 11 to 1 |
| Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD Public, 2-4 years | $7,524 | - | - | 0.0% | 1,193 | 75% | 13 to 1 |
| Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD Public, 2-4 years | $8,286 | - | - | 0.0% | 1,292 | 51% | 13 to 1 |
| National American University-Rapid City Rapid City, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $16,065 | $16,425 | - | 0.0% | 1,204 | 11% | 6 to 1 |
| Institute of Lutheran Theology Brookings, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $10,160 | $8,350 | - | 0.0% | - | - | - |
| Presentation College Aberdeen, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $22,764 | $18,613 | 975 | 93.7% | 577 | 35% | 11 to 1 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD Public, 4 years four-years | $14,860 | $18,840 | 1,255 | 80.5% | 2,416 | 52% | 11 to 1 |
| The Salon Professional Academy Rapid City, SD Private, 2-4 years | $14,985 | - | - | 0.0% | 53 | 81% | 6 to 1 |
| Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD Private, 4 years four-years | $4,714 | $2,008 | - | 0.0% | 781 | - | 16 to 1 |
| Sanford Medical Center Sioux Falls, SD Private, 2-4 years | $2,750 | - | - | 0.0% | 28 | - | 4 to 1 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City Rapid City, SD Private, 2-4 years | $15,750 | - | - | 0.0% | 88 | 95% | 12 to 1 |
| Average | $12,633 | $13,252 | 1,086 | 80.4% | 1,801 | 55% | 12 to 1 |