South Dakota Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score

Below is a list of the 9 colleges in South Dakota with the highest ACT Score for incoming freshmen. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology leads the list with an average ACT Score of 27. Alternatively, check out the SAT version of these rankings.

The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.

List of South Dakota Colleges Ranked by Highest ACT Score
College	Average ACT Score
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, South Dakota	27
Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota	24
Dakota State University Madison, South Dakota	23
South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota	22
University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota	22
Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota	21
Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota	21
Mount Marty University Yankton, South Dakota	21
Northern State University Aberdeen, South Dakota	21

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This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: August 2026

Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.