Top South Dakota Colleges and Universities

About this article
South Dakota is in the Midwest region of the United States. There are six public universities located in the state of South Dakota, five of which are discussed below.
View available schools

Top Five Schools in South Dakota

South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is a public educational institution and is located in Brookings. The university was founded in 1881 and has an undergraduate student population of 9,208. It is the largest university in the state of South Dakota. The university began as an agricultural college but later expanded to include other disciplines. Today it is known for its excellent programs in pharmacy, engineering, nursing, liberal arts and agriculture. One notable graduate is Theodore Schultz, the winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Economics. The estimated total cost for residents per year is $11,126 and $12,438 for non-residents.

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota is a public educational institution and was founded in 1862. The university also happens to be the oldest in the state; it also has the honor of being the state's only liberal arts university. The university is located in Vermillion and has an undergraduate student population of 6,408. The University of South Dakota has seven colleges and schools: Law, Medicine, the School of Education, the Beacom School of Business, the School of Health Sciences, the College of Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences. The university has the only law and medical schools in the state of South Dakota. The undergraduate tuition cost for residents is $2,643.20 and $4,108.80 for non-residents.

Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University, located in Spearfish, is a public educational institution. The university was founded in 1883 and has a student population of 4,004. This university is relatively small and began as a teacher's college. Now the university has grown to include 56 degree programs that entering freshmen or freshwomen can choose from. The university is made up of three separate colleges: the College of Business and Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. The undergraduate tuition for residents is $5,803 and $7,123 for non-residents.

Northern State University

Northern State University, located in Aberdeen, is a public educational institution. The university was founded in 1901 and has a student population of 2,200. The university is primarily focused on undergraduate degrees; however, it does confer nine graduate degrees. Northern State University's academic programs are divided among four schools and colleges: Education, Business, Arts and Sciences and Fine Arts. The undergraduate estimated cost for residents is $5,066 and $7,942 for non-residents.

Dakota State University

Dakota State University is a public educational institution and was founded in 1881. Located in Madison, Dakota State University has a student population of 2,507. Dakota State University places more emphasis on technology and skills-oriented programs of study. Many students that attend this university major in business, education, physical science or computer programming. Graduate programs are offered in educational technology, information assurance and information systems. The university also allows its students to use tablet PCs in classrooms. The undergraduate tuition cost for residents is $5,373 and $6,611 for non-residents.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Educational Leadership
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    3. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - Curriculum and Teaching
      • MEd - General Education
      • MEd - Reading Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
    Certificate
      • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching
      • EdS - General Education
      • EdS - Social Emotional Learning
      • EdS - Early Childhood Education
      • EdS - International Education
      • EdS - Organizational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    4. UMass Global

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MA in Organizational Leadership
      • MBA in Business Administration
      • MBA in Business Administration (Accounting)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Bus Intel & Data Analytics)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Finance)
      • MBA in Business Administration (Health Administration)
    Bachelor's
      • BA in Communications & Media
      • BA in Criminal Justice
      • BA in Legal Studies
      • BA in Legal Studies (Business Law)
      • BA in Psychology (Child Psychology)
      • BA in Psychology (General Psychology)
    Associate's
      • AA (General Education)
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • Master : Business Admin
      • MBA: Human Resources
      • MBA: Health Care Management
      • MBA: Project Management
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • BS in Criminal Justice - Socially Responsible Leadership
      • BS in Organizational Management - Decision Management
      • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
      • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Organizations
      • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google IT Support Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • CERT: Criminal Justice
      • CERT: Journalism Education
  • Campus and Online Programs
    7. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
      • M.S. - New Media Journalism
      • M.S. - Public Relations
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Film Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    8. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Qualitative Research)
      • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Quantitative Research)
    Master's
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in STEM (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • BA in Digital Film - Production
  • Campus Locations:
    9. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Maintenance AAS
    Certificate
      • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician Specialist
      • Automotive Technology
      • Wind Power Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Diesel Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Featured Schools

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching

What is your highest level of education?

UMass Global

  • MA in Organizational Leadership
  • BA in Communications & Media
  • AA (General Education)

Which subject are you interested in?

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
  • AASBA in Business
  • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Liberty University

  • CERT: Criminal Justice
  • CERT: Journalism Education

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Game Design Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Grand Canyon University

  • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Qualitative Research)
  • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?