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

Rank	Name	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Graduation Rate	Population	Student-Faculty Ratio
1	South Dakota State University Brookings, SD	89%	1,150	59%	11,405	17:1 (5.88 %)
2	Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD	71%	1,223	72%	2,019	12:1 (8.33 %)
3	University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD	91%	1,123	60%	9,459	16:1 (6.25 %)
4	Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD	97%	1,121	39%	3,608	18:1 (5.56 %)
5	Northern State University Aberdeen, SD	79%	1,065	45%	3,431	21:1 (4.76 %)
6	University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD	92%	1,150	58%	1,628	16:1 (6.25 %)
7	Dakota State University Madison, SD	84%	1,100	49%	3,186	18:1 (5.56 %)
8	Mount Marty College Yankton, SD	78%	930	53%	1,167	13:1 (7.69 %)
	Average	85.13%	1,108	54.38%	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 Living Costs

Table. Best South Dakota Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation

Rank	School Name	2022 Tuition & Fees		2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
		In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
1	South Dakota State University	$9,299	$12,809	$9,399	$12,944
2	Augustana University	$35,914		$35,944
3	University of South Dakota	$9,432	$12,942	$9,533	$13,078
4	Black Hills State University	$9,000	$12,100	$9,340	$12,469
5	Northern State University	$8,845	$11,947	$8,941	$12,074
6	University of Sioux Falls	$19,900		$20,287
7	Dakota State University	$9,633	$12,735	$9,731	$12,865
8	Mount 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

Rank	School Name	2022 Tuition & Fees		2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
		In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
1	South Dakota State University	$9,384	$16,917	$9,384	$9,484
2	Augustana University	$36,696		$36,913
3	University of South Dakota	$7,118	$12,768	$7,118	$7,194
4	Black Hills State University	$8,916	$15,849	$8,916	-
5	Northern State University	$6,736	$11,936	$6,736	$6,808
6	University of Sioux Falls	$7,110		$7,110
7	Dakota State University	$6,731	$11,931	$6,731	$6,803
8	Mount Marty College	$9,650		$11,391
	Average	$7,777	$15,357	$7,572	$17,435