2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota
13
Colleges
$43,552
Avg Salary*
35%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top South Dakota Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 13 colleges and universities across South Dakota to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
Customizing Your List
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Top Colleges in South Dakota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
South Dakota State University tops this year’s ranking as the best school in South Dakota for overall quality. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, the fairly large public school awarded 2,586 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State make an average of $49,845 per year during the early years of their career.
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A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in South Dakota list means Mount Marty University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Yankton, South Dakota. It awarded 219 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Mount Marty make an average of $42,407 a year.
Full Mount Marty University Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Area Technical Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota list. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 864 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,787 during the early years of their career..
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Out of the 13 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Augustana University landed the #4 spot on the list. Augustana University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that handed out 688 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Augustana Sioux Falls make an average of $50,137 a year.
Full Augustana University Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Dakota. The school came in at #5 in South Dakota on this year’s overall quality ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,185 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,600 during the early years of their career..
Full University of South Dakota Report
With a ranking of #6, Dakota State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota list. This small public school is located in Madison, South Dakota, and it awarded 598 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Dakota State make an average of $44,019 a year.
Full Dakota State University Report
Mitchell Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Dakota ranking. Mitchell Tech is a public institution located in Mitchell, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 474 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,992 during the early years of their career..
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With a ranking of #8, Northern State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota list. NSU is a public institution located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 382 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NSU is $43,429 during the early years of their career.
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National American University - Rapid City came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Dakota ranking. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, the small private for-profit school awarded 544 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from National American University - Rapid City is $36,567 during the early years of their career.
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Southeast Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in South Dakota ranking, coming in at #10. This small public school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 878 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Southeast Tech make an average of $42,638 a year.
Full Southeast Technical College Report
University of Sioux Falls ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in South Dakota list. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 532 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Sioux Falls is $47,803 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Sioux Falls Report
Black Hills State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Dakota ranking. BHSU is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 585 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from BHSU make an average of $39,963 a year.
Full Black Hills State University Report
Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in South Dakota ranking. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 424 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,992 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Western Dakota Technical Institute
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