List of 15 best universities in South Dakota

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Top 15 universities in South Dakota ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 768K citations received by 40.9K academic publications made by 15 universities from South Dakota, the popularity of 190 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. South Dakota State University

Brookings

#233 in the United States

#262 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1133
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 100%

2. University of South Dakota

Vermillion

#271 in the United States

#302 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

3. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid

#500 in the United States

#549 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1269
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

4. Dakota State University

Madison

#548 in the United States

#601 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

5. Augustana University

Sioux Falls

#837 in the United States

#905 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1218
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $23,843

6. Black Hills State University

Spearfish

#992 in the United States

#1063 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1028
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 100%

7. Northern State University

Aberdeen

#1037 in the United States

#1109 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 975
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

8. University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

#1107 in the United States

#1181 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $20,957
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,117

9. Oglala Lakota College

Kyle

#1618 in the United States

#1704 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,505
Enrollment: 1,177

10. Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell

#1668 in the United States

#1755 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,825

11. Mount Marty College

Yankton

#1775 in the United States

#1864 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,476
Receiving Aid: 100%

12. Presentation College

Aberdeen

#1914 in the United States

#2006 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 985
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $27,553

13. Sinte Gleska University

Mission

#1924 in the United States

#2016 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,234
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $6,299

14. National American University - Rapid City

Rapid

#2005 in the United States

#2098 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,855
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $4,972

15. Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls

#2066 in the United States

#2160 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 917
Male:Female: 59:41

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nebraska	23	68
North Dakota	14	182
Minnesota	48	14
Wyoming	1	141
Iowa	39	47
Kansas	32	75
Colorado	38	46
Montana	12	153
Wisconsin	47	13
Missouri	67	38
Oklahoma	31	100
Illinois	100	15
Utah	20	40
Idaho	10	148
Michigan	62	3
Indiana	55	39
Arkansas	24	127
New Mexico	12	81
Kentucky	38	60
Ohio	90	18
Texas	119	26
Arizona	25	34
Tennessee	56	50
Nevada	10	130
Mississippi	18	133
Washington	57	8
Oregon	31	63
Louisiana	27	79
West Virginia	26	112
Alabama	33	84
Pennsylvania	155	12
California	249	2
Georgia	63	44
Virginia	63	41
North Carolina	65	24
District of Columbia	15	56
South Carolina	37	87
New York	221	4
Maryland	34	9
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	23
Vermont	17	109
Connecticut	28	11
New Hampshire	16	77
Massachusetts	88	1
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	152
Florida	109	22
Alaska	6	181
Puerto Rico	52	373
US Virgin Islands	1	811
Hawaii	10	160
American Samoa	1	1702
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1594
Guam	2	614

Closest to South Dakota states