South Dakota College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for South Dakota colleges

There are 17 four-year colleges and universities in South Dakota—9 public institutions and 8 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $7,597, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $9,900. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 0.18% and out-of-state costs changed by 0.14%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 16.65% (in-state) and 18.62% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $23,342 in 2025. That is a 13.04% change from last year and 1.98% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $6,501, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $11,078. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 0.00% and out-of-state costs changed by 0.00%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is -1.59% (in-state) and 5.09% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $14,987 in 2025. That is a 3.23% change from last year and 4.56% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 13.04% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 0.18% (lower by 12.86 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 0.14% (lower by 12.90 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 1.98%, compared with public in-state 16.65% (higher by 14.68 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 18.62% (higher by 16.64 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 3.23% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 0.00% (lower by 3.23 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 0.00% (lower by 3.23 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 4.56%, compared with public graduate in-state -1.59% (lower by 6.15 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 5.09% (higher by 0.53 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $21,337 (public in-state), $23,640 (public out-of-state), and $37,082 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 4.61%, 4.15%, and 10.82%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 24.53% (public in-state), 24.63% (public out-of-state), and 10.65% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $23,280 (public in-state), $25,583 (public out-of-state), and $39,025 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 2.63%, 2.39%, and 9.16%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 30.87% (public in-state), 30.38% (public out-of-state), and 14.22% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of South Dakota Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in South Dakota from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in South Dakota and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For South Dakota public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $7,597 which has increased by 16.65% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $9,900 which has risen by 18.62%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 1.86% while last year increase rate was 0.14%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for South Dakota Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$6,879$6,984$7,099$7,238$7,429$7,429$7,620$7,588$7,584$7,597
Year-to-Year Rates5.63%1.52%1.65%1.95%2.64%0.00%2.58%-0.42%-0.06%0.18%
Cumulative Rates5.63%7.24%9.00%11.13%14.07%14.07%17.01%16.52%16.45%16.65%
Out-of-State Costs$8,799$9,136$9,269$9,458$9,712$9,711$9,925$9,893$9,887$9,900
Year-to-Year Rates5.42%3.83%1.46%2.03%2.69%-0.01%2.21%-0.32%-0.07%0.14%
Cumulative Rates5.42%9.46%11.06%13.32%16.36%16.35%18.92%18.54%18.46%18.62%
For private schools in South Dakota state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $23,342 which has increased by 1.98% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 0.20% while last year increase rate was 13.04%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for South Dakota Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$23,750$22,071$22,909$19,480$20,029$18,589$19,590$19,988$20,650$23,342
Year-to-Year Rates3.76%-7.07%3.80%-14.97%2.82%-7.19%5.38%2.03%3.31%13.04%
Cumulative Rates3.76%-3.57%0.09%-14.90%-12.50%-18.79%-14.42%-12.68%-9.78%1.98%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of South Dakota public schools are $6,501 which has increased by -1.59% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $11,078 which has risen by 5.09%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 0.51% while last year increase rate was 0.00%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for South Dakota Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$6,643$6,302$6,476$6,053$6,721$6,729$6,917$6,756$6,501$6,501
Year-to-Year Rates0.56%-5.14%2.76%-6.53%11.02%0.13%2.79%-2.32%-3.77%0.00%
Cumulative Rates0.56%-4.61%-1.98%-8.37%1.73%1.85%4.70%2.27%-1.59%-1.59%
Out-of-State Costs$10,534$10,180$10,375$9,616$10,637$10,645$11,755$11,596$11,078$11,078
Year-to-Year Rates-0.07%-3.36%1.92%-7.32%10.62%0.08%10.43%-1.36%-4.46%0.00%
Cumulative Rates-0.07%-3.43%-1.58%-8.78%0.90%0.98%11.51%10.00%5.09%5.09%
For private graduate schools in South Dakota state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $14,987 which has increased by 4.56% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 0.45573% while last year increase rate was 3.23%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for South Dakota Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$9,370$13,953$14,860$13,368$12,839$13,318$13,600$13,688$14,519$14,987
Year-to-Year Rates-34.63%48.91%6.50%-10.04%-3.96%3.73%2.12%0.65%6.07%3.23%
Cumulative Rates-34.63%-2.66%3.67%-6.74%-10.43%-7.09%-5.12%-4.51%1.29%4.56%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at South Dakota college cost trends.