Top Colleges in South Dakota

Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Updated: May 28th, 2024

Most colleges and universities in South Dakota can be found in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. The state is home to several public institutions, including the University of South Dakota. If you’re from South Dakota, check out the colleges below, and don’t forget to check out schools located in other Western Undergraduate Exchange states.

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Top college scholarships for
South Dakota Students

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Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD • Private, Non-Profit, City

Augustana University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There are currently 1,759 undergraduates at Augustana and the school’s acceptance rate is 66%. The tuition…

Augustana University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

66% acceptance

76% graduation rate

1,759 undergrads

$24,113 net price

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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid City, SD • Public, City

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public 4-year college located in Rapid City, South Dakota. There are currently 2,047 undergraduates at SD School of Mines and Tech…

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83% acceptance

56% graduation rate

2,047 undergrads

$21,282 net price

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Public, Town

South Dakota State University is a public 4-year college located in Brookings, South Dakota. There are currently 8,627 undergraduates at SDSU and the school’s acceptance rate is 86%. The tuition…

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86% acceptance

59% graduation rate

8,627 undergrads

$18,125 net price

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD • Public, Town

University of South Dakota is a public 4-year college located in Vermillion, South Dakota. There are currently 5,265 undergraduates at South Dakota and the school’s acceptance rate is 99%. The…

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99% acceptance

57% graduation rate

5,265 undergrads

$19,499 net price

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Mount Marty University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Yankton, South Dakota. There are currently 693 undergraduates at Mount Marty and the school’s acceptance rate is 68%. The…

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68% acceptance

57% graduation rate

693 undergrads

$21,611 net price

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD • Private, Non-Profit, City

University of Sioux Falls is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There are currently 1,299 undergraduates at U Sioux Falls and the school’s acceptance rate…Read More

University of Sioux Falls is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

76% acceptance

59% graduation rate

1,299 undergrads

$20,959 net price

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD • Public, Town

Northern State University is a public 4-year college located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. There are currently 1,258 undergraduates at Northern State and the school’s acceptance rate is 78%. The tuition…

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78% acceptance

51% graduation rate

1,258 undergrads

$17,523 net price

Dakota State University

Madison, SD • Public, Town

Dakota State University is a public 4-year college located in Madison, South Dakota. There are currently 1,894 undergraduates at Dakota State and the school’s acceptance rate is 79%. The tuition…

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79% acceptance

49% graduation rate

1,894 undergrads

$18,356 net price

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD • Public, Town

Black Hills State University is a public 4-year college located in Spearfish, South Dakota. There are currently 1,933 undergraduates at Black Hills State and the school’s acceptance rate is 97%.…

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97% acceptance

44% graduation rate

1,933 undergrads

$17,111 net price

About the Data

We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

State grants in South Dakota

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship:

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is a merit based scholarship that takes into account ACT or SAT scores, GPA, and what kind of college you plan on attending. You must be a South Dakota resident in order to be eligible. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

Freedom Scholarship:

The Freedom Scholarship is a need based scholarship for South Dakota students attending participating institutions and working towards a bachelor’s degree. In order to be eligible for this scholarship, students must commit to living and working in South Dakota for at least three years following their graduation.

South Dakota tuition reciprocity agreements

South Dakota is a part of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). This organization comes from legislation that made it so 12 midwestern states can work together to provide tuition discounts. Most of these discounts come in the form of providing out-of-state students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition.

Here are the states in the MHEC:

Other college lists to explore

Frequently asked questions about colleges in South Dakota

What is the hardest college in South Dakota to get into?

The school with the lowest acceptance rate in South Dakota is Mount Marty University with an acceptance rate of 67%. Keep in mind that a lower acceptance rate doesn’t automatically mean a school is the best choice for you!

Does South Dakota have tuition reciprocity?

Yes! South Dakota is a part of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), which means if you are a student looking to study out-of-state, you may have the opportunity to study in one of the MHEC’s partner states at a discounted tuition rate.

Why should I study in South Dakota?

Studying in South Dakota allows students to have a unique opportunity to learn about the history of Native Americans in the state and see historic landmarks like Mount Rushmore. Speaking of mountains, there is plenty of mountainous terrain to explore on the western side of the state, and Badlands National Park if you are interested in hiking through picturesque ridges in between your studies. As far as South Dakota’s economy, some of the top industries include healthcare, hospitality, financial services and agriculture.

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Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Top Colleges in South Dakota

Scholarships360 is recommended by

Augustana University

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

South Dakota State University

University of South Dakota

Mount Marty University

University of Sioux Falls

Northern State University

Dakota State University

Black Hills State University

About the Data

State grants in South Dakota

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship:

Freedom Scholarship:

South Dakota tuition reciprocity agreements

Other college lists to explore

Frequently asked questions about colleges in South Dakota

What is the hardest college in South Dakota to get into?

Does South Dakota have tuition reciprocity?

Why should I study in South Dakota?

3 reasons to join scholarships360