South Dakota’s Schools & Universities
Although a large state in terms of land mass, South Dakota is home to fewer than 900,000 people and fewer than 25 colleges and universities. Approximately half are two and four-year public institutions, the largest of which is the South Dakota State University, which enrolls about 13,000. Next largest is the University of South Dakota, with approximately 10,000 students.
USD, as it is widely known, is the oldest university in the state, and offers the only law school and the only medical school in the state.
Ranked one of the best schools in the Midwestern region of the country, the University of South Dakota is the first college founded in the state, it is also the only school with a medical and law school within the entire state.
After USD and SDSU, Black Hills State University is the only institution with a student population in excess of 4,000. Ten South Dakota 10 colleges serve fewer than 1,000 students, including small tribal colleges set up to educate Native Americans, who comprise close to 10% of South Dakota’s population.
Among the more distinctive colleges in the state are Sioux Falls Seminary, which enrolls fewer than 150 students, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, an institution which focuses on engineering and science-related degree programs, and Augustana College, perhaps the most selective private college in the state.
Interestingly, although South Dakota has an enviable high school graduation rate (above 90%), only a little more than a quarter of adults hold college degrees, putting it below the U.S. state average.
At least 5 South Dakota colleges offer degrees via online education.
Most of the colleges and universities in South Dakota are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
South Dakota Traditional Colleges
Augustana College
- Site – www.augustana.edu
- Phone – 800-727-2844
- Admissions – admission@augie.edu
- Financial Aid – Financial_Aid@augie.edu
Black Hills State University
- Site – www.bhsu.edu
- Phone – 800-255-2478
- Admissions –
- Financial Aid – bhsufinancial@bhsu.edu
Dakota Wesleyan University
- Site – www.dwu.edu
- Phone – 800-333-8506
- Admissions – admissions@dwu.edu
- Financial Aid – wihjellu@dwu.edu
Mount Marty College
- Site – www.mtmc.edu
- Phone – 800-658-4552
- Admissions – admissions.studentvisits@gallaudet.edu
- Financial Aid – mmcadmit@mtmc.edu
Northern State University
- Site – www.northern.edu
- Phone – 800-678-5330
- Address – 1200 S Jay St, Aberdeen, SD 57401
Presentation College
- Site – www.presentation.edu
- Phone – 800-437-6060
- Address – 1500 North Main Street Aberdeen, SD 57401
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
- Site – www.sdsmt.edu
- Phone – 800-544-8162
- Address – 501 E St Joseph St, Rapid City, SD 57701
South Dakota State University
- Site – www.sdstate.edu
- Phone – 800-952-3541
- Address – 100 Administration Lane, Brookings, SD 57006
University of Sioux Falls
- Site – www.usiouxfalls.edu
- Phone – 800-888-1047
- Address – 1101 W 22nd St, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
University of South Dakota
- Site – www.usd.edu
- Phone – 877 COYOTES
- Address – 414 E Clark St, Vermillion, SD 57069
South Dakota – Community Colleges
Kilian Community College
- Site – kilian.edu
- Address – 300 E 6th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
- Phone – (605) 221-3100
Lake Area Technical Institute
- Site – www.lakeareatech.edu
- Address – 1201 Arrow Ave NE, Watertown, SD 57201
- Phone – (605) 882-5284
Mitchell Technical Institute
- Site – www.mitchelltech.edu
- Address – 1800 E Spruce St, Mitchell, SD 57301
- Phone – (605) 995-3025
Sisseton Wahpeton College
- Site – www.swc.tc
- Address – 12572 BIA Hwy 700, Sisseton, SD 57262
- Phone – (605) 698-3966
Southeast Technical Institute
- Site – www.southeasttech.edu
- Address – 2320 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57107
- Phone – (605) 367-6040
Western Dakota Technical Institute
- Site – www.wdt.edu
- Address – 800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, SD 57703
- Phone – (800) 544-8765
Trade, Vocational, And Career Schools In South Dakota
Sioux Falls
Colorado Technical University
National American University
Watertown
National American University
Online Colleges In South Dakota
In 2012, 20.9% of students enrolled in South Dakota’s Title IV postsecondary institutions were enrolled in fully online degree programs (NCES). Even in 2012, that number would have been considered high. In 2015, that number would still be high. As an added bonus, the state has likely increased the number of students enrolled in these programs in the past several years. To that end, South Dakota is among the top states in the nation that provide excellent online educational opportunities for prospective students interested in taking their postsecondary learning completely online. Prospective students exploring online degree programs in South Dakota will find a wide range of options. Despite the relatively small number of schools, the state’s institutions, both public and private, have realized the importance of offering online degree programs, particularly in a fairly rural state.
Most postsecondary institutions in South Dakota boast both lower-than-average annual tuition rates, and post-graduation salaries that are at or higher than the national average. Prospective students will be pleased to know that the best schools to find online degree programs and certificates can be found at the state’s public institutions. As such, tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students are budget-friendly. Indeed, South Dakota is one of the few states that has out-of-state tuition rates that are very similar to those that exist for in-state students. The University of South Dakota, for example, has an in-state annual tuition cost around $8,500 and an out-of-state tuition cost around $10,500. The university is well ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, sitting at #41 for Best Online MBA Programs, #31 for Best Online Graduate Business Programs (excluding MBA) and #180 for National Universities. The university offers online degrees through the Beacom School of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, College of Fine Arts and its graduate school. Prospective students can earn Master’s degrees in Music, Interdisciplinary Studies,
Educational Administration, Kinesiology and Sport Science, Technology for Education and Training, Educational Administration, Addiction Studies, Social Work, Public Health, Public Administration, Administration, Business Administration and Professional Accountancy. Bachelor’s degrees can be obtained in the following areas: Business Administration, General Studies, Addiction Studies, Health Sciences and Nursing.
A wide range of options can also be obtained from South Dakota State University, which boasts reasonable spots on U.S. News and World Report’s annual college rankings (#214 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, #60 for Best Online Graduate Education Programs and #187 for National Universities). Prospective students will find six Bachelor’s degrees at the school: General Studies, Geography, Interdisciplinary Studies, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing and Sociology. One Associate’s degree is available in General Studies, and nine undergraduate minors are available in Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, Gerontology, Psychology, Rehabilitation Services, Religion, Sociology and Studio Arts.Those interested in furthering their degrees on the graduate level will find 13 degree programs available: Agricultural Education, Chemistry-Chemical Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Dietetics, Educational Administration, Educational Administration, Humans Sciences (Family and Community Services, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Family Financial Planning and/or Merchandising), Mass Communication, Nursing, Public Health and Sociology.
In all, there are 22 accredited institutions in the state that offer online degree programs or certificates of some kind. These include public and private schools, as well as colleges serving Native American students.