Top 2022 Colleges in South Dakota

South Dakota's 30 Colleges and Universities

The few colleges in South Dakota are mostly near Sioux Falls and Rapid City. There are a range of midsize four year universities to small two year colleges. Let’s look at some NCES stats about the Mount Rushmore state:

  • South Dakota is home to 19 four year college. 63% of them are public state universities.
  • There are 11 two year or less colleges. 37% of which are public community colleges.
  • Over the past 5 years, South Dakota has seen a small 4.3% drop in students. In 2017, 246,388 students were enrolled in college.
  • In total, 24,445 degrees were awarded for the 2016 - 2017 school year. Thus, about 25% of those awards were bachelor's degrees.

Salary Breakdown

According to the College Scorecard alums from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn the highest average salary. 10 years after graduating, the average salary is about $65,900. Meanwhile, the 2017 mean annual wage in South Dakota is $41,800. You do the math!

South Dakota's Tuition Programs

South Dakota is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. This program allows students to pursue degrees in one of 15 Western states at an in-state tuition rate. According to WICHE, South Dakota students have saved over $87 million out of state tuition since 1989. In 2018 that number was $3.2 million! Participating states include North Dakota and Montana.

Top Colleges in South Dakota

#1
12,104
Total Number of Students
$8,764 / $12,128
Tuition & Fees
91%
Acceptance Rate
#2
10,066
Total Number of Students
$9,061 / $12,425
Tuition & Fees
87%
Acceptance Rate
#3
4,035
Total Number of Students
$8,733 / $11,778
Tuition & Fees
87%
Acceptance Rate
#4
3,493
Total Number of Students
$8,497 / $11,470
Tuition & Fees
91%
Acceptance Rate
#5
3382
Total Number of Students
$9,276 / $12,249
Tuition & Fees
84%
Acceptance Rate

List of Colleges

Thousands of students have rated these South Dakota colleges. Discover what they have to say. Find out about campus life, academics and more!

Source for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.