Best small colleges in South Dakota
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in South Dakota5 schools
5 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in South Dakota.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
Augustana University
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit#1 in South Dakota
- 1,871 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
- 2
Mount Marty University
Yankton, SD · Private nonprofit#5 in South Dakota
- 1,096 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 3
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit#6 in South Dakota
- 1,276 undergraduates
- 63% graduate
- 4
Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 767 undergraduates
- 48% graduate
- 5
National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit#11 in South Dakota
- 836 undergraduates
- 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% |
| Mount Marty University | $22,227 | $26,396 | $48,179 | 52% |
| University of Sioux Falls | $21,383 | $23,249 | $54,521 | 63% |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | $19,735 | $27,000 | $53,728 | 48% |
| 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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15