According to College Navigator, there are eight public universities, seven private non-profit colleges, and two private for-profit colleges in South Dakota.
The cost of in-state tuition during the 2021-22 school year in South Dakota was $9,300, according to College Board.
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree during the 2020-21 academic year were awarded an average of $14,800 in financial aid.
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in South Dakota. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a reputable organization that examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of education programs in the central United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Considering what job opportunities will be available to you after graduation is important for choosing where you’ll go to college. You can understand the career choices available to you in South Dakota by researching the state’s biggest industries. The top five industries in South Dakota are trade, transportation, and utilities; government; education and health services; goods-producing; and retail trade.
There are many high-salaried positions available to college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in South Dakota. According to CareerOneStop, the five fastest-growing careers in South Dakota for this education level are information security analysts, middle school career/technical education teachers, data scientists, software developers, and architects.
Understanding the job market in South Dakota can help provide insight into your post-graduation job outlook. Research the largest employers in South Dakota to get an idea of what industries and sectors are based in the state. The top 150 employers in South Dakota include Sanford USD Medical Center, Avera Mckennan Hospital University Health, Regional Health, Larson Manufacturing, and Fort Meade VA Hospital.
To cover the financial costs associated with higher education, consider applying for federal and state financial aid. Below are resources to assist you in applying for scholarships, grants, and work-study programs in South Dakota.