Top Rated South Dakota Public Colleges

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in South Dakota as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the best public college in South Dakota is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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South Dakota Public 4 Year
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Campus

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  • 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.

#1 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $20,267
Details
University of South Dakota Campus

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  • 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.

#3 Best Colleges in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1125-1315
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $19,133
Details
South Dakota State University Campus

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  • 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.

#3 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $19,932
Details
Dakota State University Campus

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  • 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.

#4 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $20,438
Details
Northern State University Campus
 

  • 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.

#5 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $15,990
Details
Black Hills State University Campus

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  • 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.

#3 Best Value Colleges in South Dakota 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 965-1135
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $15,576
Details