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.
| 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.
| 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 | |
| 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 | |