2025 South Dakota Colleges Graduation Rate Comparison
For the academic year 2023-2024, the average graduation rate at South Dakota colleges is 53.9%. The graduation rate is calculated by number of completers by dividing number of candidates. The completers have completed their degree/certificate within 150% of normal time, for example within 6 years for 4-years BS degree program. The average transfer-out rate is 6.6% and the average retention rate is 77.0% (full-time students).
South Dakota College Graduation, Transfer-out, Retention Rate Statistics
The next list shows the colleges with the highest and lowest graduation rate and more relative statistics. For that, we include only 4-year colleges and having more than 500 enrolled students.
- Augustana University has the highest graduation rate of 73% and Oglala Lakota College has the lowest graduation rate of 9% and .
- Mount Marty University has the highest transfer-out rate of 32% and Dakota Wesleyan University has the lowest transfer-out rate of 1% and .
- Sinte Gleska University has the highest retention rate of 100% and National American University-Rapid City has the lowest retention rate of 33% and .
Graduation Rate Comparison Between South Dakota Colleges
The following table lists South Dakota colleges with graduation, transfer-out, and retention rate. The graduation rate is based on the number of completers who completed their program within 150% normal time (i.e. within 6 years for 4 years B.S. degrees).
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 | Graduation Rate | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate (full-time) | Retention Rate (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 73% | 13% | 86% | 50 |
| The Salon Professional Academy Rapid City, SD Private, Less than 2 years | 79% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 43% | - | 72% | 50 |
| Dakota State University Madison, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 51% | - | 75% | 75 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 48% | 1% | 75% | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City Rapid City, SD Private, Less than 2 years | 88% | - | 80% | - |
| Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD Public, 2-4 years | 73% | 5% | 81% | 78 |
| Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD Public, 2-4 years | 76% | 4% | 85% | 80 |
| Mount Marty University Yankton, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 52% | 32% | 68% | - |
| National American University-Rapid City Rapid City, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 60% | - | 33% | 46 |
| Northern State University Aberdeen, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 49% | 8% | 77% | 63 |
| Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 9% | 2% | 62% | 40 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 53% | 1% | 84% | 67 |
| South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 62% | - | 84% | 60 |
| Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 15% | - | 100% | 78 |
| University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 63% | 1% | 74% | - |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 21% | - | - | - |
| Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD Public, 2-4 years | 59% | 1% | 70% | 77 |
| Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD Private, Less than 2 years | 88% | - | 88% | - |
| University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Public, 4 years four-years | 60% | - | 79% | 46 |
| Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD Public, 2-4 years | 54% | 5% | 67% | 49 |
| California Intercontinental University Sioux Falls, SD Private, 4 years four-years | 10% | - | - | 50 |
| Average | 54% | 7% | 77% | 64 |
Most Compared South Dakota Colleges
The following South Dakota college pairs are frequently compared by users. You can compare the schools by their most important academic factors such as acceptance rate and tuition.