Best South Dakota Colleges
There are 20 colleges and universities in South Dakota enrolling 53,544 students. Explore the list of top colleges in South Dakota below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in South Dakota offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.
South Dakota is home to nationally ranked institutions like Augustana University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The highest ranked college in South Dakota is Augustana University and the top rated public state college is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Local college options can be explored in Sioux Falls or other cities.
List of the Best South Dakota Colleges
Augustana University
- Private 4 Year
- Sioux Falls, SD
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Augustana is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city.
- SAT Range 1150-1370
- Avg GPA 3.76
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $24,977
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Public 4 Year
- Rapid City, SD
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
South Dakota Mines is a public science and engineering university known for undergraduate mining, geological, and materials engineering. The Rapid City campus lies at the edge of the Black Hills.
- SAT Range 1140-1340
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $20,267
University of South Dakota
- Public 4 Year
- Vermillion, SD
-
| 0 reviews
USD is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and fine arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Vermillion.
- SAT Range 1125-1315
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $19,133
South Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Brookings, SD
-
| 0 reviews
South Dakota State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and pharmacy. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Brookings.
- SAT Range 1060-1240
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $19,932
Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Madison, SD
-
4.3 | 7 reviews
Dakota State is a public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Madison.
- SAT Range 1190-1440
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $20,438
Mount Marty University
- Private 4 Year
- Yankton, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Mount Marty is a small private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus sits along the Missouri River in Yankton.
- SAT Range 810-1050
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $22,242
Northern State University
- Public 4 Year
- Aberdeen, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Northern State is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and fine arts. The campus is in Aberdeen, a small city in northeastern South Dakota.
- SAT Range 980-1160
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $15,990
Black Hills State University
- Public 4 Year
- Spearfish, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Black Hills State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and outdoor education. The campus sits in Spearfich at the northern edge of South Dakota's Black Hills.
- SAT Range 965-1135
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $15,576
Dakota Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Mitchell, SD
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 27 application deadline
Dakota Wesleyan is a small private university with undergraduate programs in nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
- SAT Range 950-1420
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $22,990
Lake Area Technical College
- Public 2 Year
- Watertown, SD
-
| 0 reviews
A public two-year technical college known for undergraduate diesel technology, nursing, and agriculture programs. The campus is in Watertown, a small city in eastern South Dakota.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.06
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $13,551
Mitchell Technical College
- Public 2 Year
- Mitchell, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Mitchell Tech is a public two-year technical college known for undergraduate programs in agriculture, power line technology, and nursing. Most students pursue hands-on associate degrees and certificates on its campus in Mitchell.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.09
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,570
National American University Rapid City
- Private 4 Year
- Rapid City, SD
-
| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $31,062
Kairos University
- Private 4 Year
- Sioux Falls, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Kairos is a private Christian university known for undergraduate theology and ministry programs. The Sioux Falls campus uses a competency-based model of theological education.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price -
Oglala Lakota College
- Public 4 Year
- Kyle, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Oglala Lakota College is a tribal college known for undergraduate Lakota studies, education, and nursing. It operates learning centers across the Pine Ridge Reservation.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $3,173
Sinte Gleska University
- Private 4 Year
- Mission, SD
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 24 application deadline
Sinte Gleska is a tribal university known for undergraduate Lakota studies, education, and Native American programs. The rural campus is located on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,768
University of Sioux Falls
- Private 4 Year
- Sioux Falls, SD
-
| 0 reviews
University of Sioux Falls is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Students study on a campus in Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $21,385
Sisseton Wahpeton College
- Public 2 Year
- Sisseton, SD
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 19 application deadline
Sisseton Wahpeton College is a tribal college known for undergraduate Dakota studies and associate programs in education. The campus is located on the Lake Traverse Reservation in rural northeastern South Dakota.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $2,508
Southeast Technical College
- Public 2 Year
- Sioux Falls, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Southeast Tech is a public two-year technical college known for undergraduate programs in nursing, diesel technology, and information systems. The urban campus is located in Sioux Falls.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.4
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $15,635