Best South Dakota Colleges
South Dakota has 8 ranked four-year colleges, part of our national best colleges ranking. Rankings weigh admission scores, graduation rates, and selectivity using statistical data, not editorial picks.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, topping our list in South Dakota. The top rated public university is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Also highly ranked: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University.
Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by tuition, acceptance rate, or enrollment to find the school that fits you.
Augustana University
- Private 4 Year
- Sioux Falls, SD
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Augustana is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city.
- SAT Range 1150-1370
- Avg GPA 3.76
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $24,977
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Public 4 Year
- Rapid City, SD
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5.0 | 3 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
South Dakota Mines is a public science and engineering university known for undergraduate mining, geological, and materials engineering. The Rapid City campus lies at the edge of the Black Hills.
- SAT Range 1140-1340
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $20,267
University of South Dakota
- Public 4 Year
- Vermillion, SD
-
| 0 reviews
USD is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and fine arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Vermillion.
- SAT Range 1125-1315
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $19,133
South Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Brookings, SD
-
| 0 reviews
South Dakota State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and pharmacy. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Brookings.
- SAT Range 1060-1240
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $19,932
Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Madison, SD
-
4.3 | 7 reviews
Dakota State is a public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Madison.
- SAT Range 1190-1440
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $20,438
Mount Marty University
- Private 4 Year
- Yankton, SD
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| 0 reviews
Mount Marty is a small private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus sits along the Missouri River in Yankton.
- SAT Range 810-1050
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $22,242
Northern State University
- Public 4 Year
- Aberdeen, SD
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| 0 reviews
Northern State is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and fine arts. The campus is in Aberdeen, a small city in northeastern South Dakota.
- SAT Range 980-1160
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $15,990
Black Hills State University
- Public 4 Year
- Spearfish, SD
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| 0 reviews
Black Hills State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and outdoor education. The campus sits in Spearfich at the northern edge of South Dakota's Black Hills.
- SAT Range 965-1135
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $15,576