Best colleges for nursing in South Dakota

    South Dakota State University ranks first in South Dakota for nursing value (#525 nationally, value score 36.6): graduates earn $77,932 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $19,362 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 6 South Dakota colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

    See the rankingNational ranking

    Ask AI:ChatGPTClaude

    Best nursing colleges in South Dakota

    South Dakota State University ranks first in South Dakota for nursing value (#525 nationally, value score 36.6): graduates earn $77,932 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $19,362 a year. 6 South Dakota colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $77,180 and the average net price is $21,406 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 6 South Dakota colleges qualify. At the median one, nursing graduates earn $77,180 and the average net price is $21,406 a year.
    • The highest nursing earnings in the state are at University of Sioux Falls ($79,077), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
    Median earnings
    $77,180
    National: $85,171
    Median net price
    $21,406
    National: $18,014
    Median federal debt
    $25,250
    nursing graduates
    Public colleges
    2 of 6
    in this list

    6 colleges

    The South Dakota ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in South Dakota 1

      South Dakota State University

      Brookings, SD · Public · #525 nationally

      36.6Value
      Earnings
      $77,932
      Net price
      $19,362
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      62%
    2. Rank in South Dakota 2

      University of Sioux Falls

      Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit · #577 nationally

      31.6Value
      Earnings
      $79,077
      Net price
      $21,417
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      64%
    3. Rank in South Dakota 3

      Augustana University-South Dakota

      Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit · #616 nationally

      27.6Value
      Earnings
      $77,844
      Net price
      $23,283
      Federal debt
      $27,000
      Graduation rate
      73%
    4. Rank in South Dakota 4

      University of South Dakota

      Vermillion, SD · Public · #650 nationally

      22.3Value
      Earnings
      $73,025
      Net price
      $20,028
      Federal debt
      $25,500
      Graduation rate
      60%
    5. Rank in South Dakota 5

      Mount Marty College

      Yankton, SD · Private nonprofit · #660 nationally

      20.6Value
      Earnings
      $67,187
      Net price
      $21,395
      Federal debt
      $23,000
      Graduation rate
      63%
    6. Rank in South Dakota 6

      Dakota Wesleyan University

      Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit · #669 nationally

      18.4Value
      Earnings
      $76,515
      Net price
      $24,039
      Federal debt
      $27,500
      Graduation rate
      54%

    Method: the same value score as the national nursing ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about nursing colleges in South Dakota

    What are the best colleges for nursing in South Dakota?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 South Dakota colleges for nursing are South Dakota State University (value score 36.6), University of Sioux Falls (value score 31.6) and Augustana University-South Dakota (value score 27.6). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which South Dakota college has the highest earnings for nursing graduates?

    University of Sioux Falls: its nursing graduates have median earnings of $79,077 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable nursing college in South Dakota on this list?

    South Dakota State University has the lowest average net price of the ranked South Dakota colleges, $19,362 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many South Dakota colleges are ranked for nursing?

    6 South Dakota colleges have a nursing bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within South Dakota.