Top South Dakota Colleges and Universities

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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.
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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. 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
    2. Colorado Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
    Master's
      • Criminal Justice, M.S.
      • Criminal Justice, M.S. - Campus, Event, and Organizational Safety
      • Business Administration, MBA - Advanced Accounting
      • Business Administration, MBA - Health Care Administration
      • Business Administration, MBA - Leadership
    Bachelor's
      • Communication Studies, B.A.
      • Criminal Justice, B.S.
      • Applied Psychology, B.S. - Biblical Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Campus Locations:
    4. 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
    5. 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
    6. 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
      • MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • 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
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for Organizations
      • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    7. 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
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters with a Sports Management Elective Track - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Simulation and Visualization Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Sports Marketing and Media Bachelors - Campus
      • Game Art Bachelors - Campus
      • Cybersecurity Bachelors - Campus
    Associate's
      • Sportscasting Associates - Campus
      • Sportscasting Associates - Online
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Brookings, SD

    South Dakota State University

  • Rapid City, SD

    Western Dakota Technical Institute

Featured Schools

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?

Colorado Christian University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
  • Criminal Justice, M.S.
  • Communication Studies, B.A.

What is your highest level of education completed?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Are you located in the U.S.?

Universal Technical Institute

  • Aviation Maintenance AAS
  • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
  • Motorcycle Technician Specialist

What is your highest level of education completed?

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?

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?

Full Sail University

  • Film Production Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Sportscasting Associates - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?