Best colleges in South Dakota
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in South Dakota11 schools
11 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Dakota.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
- 2
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD · Public#2 in South Dakota
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 53% graduate
- 3
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · Public#3 in South Dakota
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 62% graduate
- 4
- 5
- 6
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit#6 in South Dakota
- Value grade B
- 63% graduate
- 7
- 8
- 9
Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 48% graduate
- 10
- 11
National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit#11 in South Dakota
- Value grade C+
- 0% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University | $23,894 | $25,000 | $59,217 | 73% |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $20,183 | $27,000 | $72,257 | 53% |
| South Dakota State University | $19,841 | $23,250 | $55,070 | 62% |
| University of South Dakota | $19,858 | $23,592 | $51,926 | 60% |
| Mount Marty University | $22,227 | $26,396 | $48,179 | 52% |
| University of Sioux Falls | $21,383 | $23,249 | $54,521 | 63% |
| Dakota State University | $21,057 | $23,500 | $50,970 | 51% |
| Northern State University | $15,812 | $22,320 | $47,618 | 49% |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | $19,735 | $27,000 | $53,728 | 48% |
| Black Hills State University | $15,911 | $26,000 | $46,674 | 43% |
| National American University-Rapid City | $31,062 | $29,020 | $37,325 | 0% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3