List of 15 best universities in South Dakota

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 1.13M citations received by 47.5K academic publications made by 15 universities from South Dakota, the popularity of 220 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. South Dakota State University

Brookings

#223 in the United States

#251 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

2. University of South Dakota

Vermillion

#271 in the United States

#302 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 95%

3. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid

#516 in the United States

#567 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

4. Dakota State University

Madison

#570 in the United States

#625 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

5. Augustana University

Sioux Falls

#811 in the United States

#879 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,977

6. Black Hills State University

Spearfish

#971 in the United States

#1043 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 89%

7. Northern State University

Aberdeen

#972 in the United States

#1044 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

8. University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

#1120 in the United States

#1195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $21,385
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,782

9. Oglala Lakota College

Kyle

#1605 in the United States

#1692 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,793
Enrollment: 1,188

10. Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell

#1624 in the United States

#1711 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $22,990
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,910

11. Mount Marty College

Yankton

#1728 in the United States

#1817 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,242
Receiving Aid: 99%

12. Sinte Gleska University

Mission

#1908 in the United States

#2000 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,234
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $7,946

13. Presentation College

Aberdeen

#1964 in the United States

#2057 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $27,553
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,967

14. National American University - Rapid City

Rapid

#2009 in the United States

#2102 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $31,062
Receiving Aid: 29%
Average Aid: $3,390

15. Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls

#2056 in the United States

#2150 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 1,239
Male:Female: 63:37

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nebraska	23	64
North Dakota	14	180
Minnesota	48	14
Wyoming	1	142
Iowa	39	49
Kansas	32	73
Colorado	38	45
Montana	12	153
Wisconsin	47	13
Missouri	67	39
Oklahoma	31	97
Illinois	100	15
Utah	20	41
Idaho	10	146
Michigan	62	3
Indiana	55	34
Arkansas	24	128
New Mexico	12	83
Kentucky	38	59
Ohio	90	18
Texas	119	26
Arizona	25	35
Tennessee	56	48
Nevada	10	131
Mississippi	18	132
Washington	57	8
Oregon	31	61
Louisiana	27	79
West Virginia	26	108
Alabama	33	85
Pennsylvania	155	12
California	249	2
Georgia	63	47
Virginia	63	40
North Carolina	65	24
District of Columbia	15	51
South Carolina	37	88
New York	221	4
Maryland	34	9
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	114
Connecticut	28	10
New Hampshire	16	74
Massachusetts	88	1
Rhode Island	12	50
Maine	19	155
Florida	109	23
Alaska	6	182
Puerto Rico	52	366
US Virgin Islands	1	789
Hawaii	10	357
American Samoa	1	1625
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1521
Guam	2	623

Closest to South Dakota states