2022 South Dakota Best Colleges Tuition Comparison

This page compares the best colleges in South Dakota with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, South Dakota State University rank first in the best South Dakota college ranking and Augustana University is placed in second.

Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in South Dakota

5 public and 3 private schools rank in the best South Dakota colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 85.13% where Augustana University has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 71% and Black Hills State University has the highest rate of 97%. Total 35,903 students are attending one of the best South Dakota schools where South Dakota State University has the largest population with 11,405 students and Mount Marty College has the smallest number of students (1,167 students). The average graduation rate is 54.38% and the average students to faculty ratio is 16.38:1 at those colleges.
The following table shows the academic information and key facts of the best South Dakota colleges including acceptance rate, graduation rate, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. South Dakota Best Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RateSAT ScoreGraduation RatePopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
89%1,15059%11,40517:1 (5.88 %)
2Augustana University
Sioux Falls, SD
71%1,22372%2,01912:1 (8.33 %)
3University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD
91%1,12360%9,45916:1 (6.25 %)
4Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD
97%1,12139%3,60818:1 (5.56 %)
5Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD
79%1,06545%3,43121:1 (4.76 %)
6University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
92%1,15058%1,62816:1 (6.25 %)
7Dakota State University
Madison, SD
84%1,10049%3,18618:1 (5.56 %)
8Mount Marty College
Yankton, SD
78%93053%1,16713:1 (7.69 %)
Average85.13%1,10854.38%35,903 (Total)16.38:1 (6.11 %)

Best South Dakota Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs

The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best South Dakota colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best South Dakota colleges is $18,541 where Augustana University has the most expensive costs at $35,914 and Northern State University has the lowest amount of tuition at $11,947. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best South Dakota colleges is $15,357 where Augustana University has the highest tuition with $36,696 and University of Sioux Falls has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $7,110.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best South Dakota Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1South Dakota State University $9,299$12,809 $9,399 $12,944
2Augustana University $35,914$35,944
3University of South Dakota $9,432$12,942 $9,533 $13,078
4Black Hills State University $9,000$12,100 $9,340 $12,469
5Northern State University $8,845$11,947 $8,941 $12,074
6University of Sioux Falls $19,900$20,287
7Dakota State University $9,633$12,735 $9,731 $12,865
8Mount Marty College $29,980$30,848
Average$9,242$18,541$9,389$18,814
Table. Best South Dakota Colleges 2022 Graduate School Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1South Dakota State University $9,384$16,917 $9,384$9,484
2Augustana University $36,696$36,913
3University of South Dakota $7,118$12,768 $7,118$7,194
4Black Hills State University $8,916$15,849 $8,916-
5Northern State University $6,736$11,936 $6,736$6,808
6University of Sioux Falls $7,110$7,110
7Dakota State University $6,731$11,931 $6,731$6,803
8Mount Marty College $9,650$11,391
Average$7,777$15,357$7,572$17,435