List of 15 best universities in South Dakota

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 1.07M citations received by 45.9K academic publications made by 15 universities from South Dakota, the popularity of 206 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. South Dakota State University

Brookings

#232 in the United States

#261 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

2. University of South Dakota

Vermillion

#279 in the United States

#310 in North America

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

3. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid

#477 in the United States

#525 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

4. Dakota State University

Madison

#591 in the United States

#647 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

5. Augustana University

Sioux Falls

#840 in the United States

#908 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,280

6. Black Hills State University

Spearfish

#967 in the United States

#1037 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $5,158

7. Northern State University

Aberdeen

#1057 in the United States

#1130 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $5,565

8. University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

#1124 in the United States

#1198 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $21,049
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,692

9. Oglala Lakota College

Kyle

#1612 in the United States

#1698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,590
Enrollment: 1,229

10. Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell

#1664 in the United States

#1751 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $21,901
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,598

11. Mount Marty College

Yankton

#1742 in the United States

#1830 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,163
Receiving Aid: 98%

12. Presentation College

Aberdeen

#1922 in the United States

#2014 in North America

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

13. Sinte Gleska University

Mission

#1930 in the United States

#2022 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,234
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $8,096

14. National American University - Rapid City

Rapid

#2007 in the United States

#2100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $22,086
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,146

15. Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls

#2051 in the United States

#2144 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 1,105
Male:Female: 63:37

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nebraska	23	64
North Dakota	14	177
Minnesota	48	14
Wyoming	1	146
Iowa	39	48
Kansas	32	74
Colorado	38	44
Montana	12	145
Wisconsin	47	13
Missouri	67	39
Oklahoma	31	99
Illinois	100	15
Utah	20	41
Idaho	10	149
Michigan	62	3
Indiana	55	33
Arkansas	24	128
New Mexico	12	84
Kentucky	38	63
Ohio	90	18
Texas	119	26
Arizona	25	35
Tennessee	56	50
Nevada	10	129
Mississippi	18	132
Washington	57	8
Oregon	31	60
Louisiana	27	79
West Virginia	26	105
Alabama	33	87
Pennsylvania	155	12
California	249	2
Georgia	63	47
Virginia	63	40
North Carolina	65	24
District of Columbia	15	55
South Carolina	37	89
New York	221	4
Maryland	34	9
Delaware	5	82
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	111
Connecticut	28	10
New Hampshire	16	76
Massachusetts	88	1
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	154
Florida	109	23
Alaska	6	181
Puerto Rico	52	367
US Virgin Islands	1	790
Hawaii	10	159
American Samoa	1	1689
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1585
Guam	2	601

Closest to South Dakota states