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

#234 in the United States

#264 in North America

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

2. University of South Dakota

Vermillion

#272 in the United States

#303 in North America

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

3. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid

#487 in the United States

#535 in North America

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

4. Dakota State University

Madison

#578 in the United States

#633 in North America

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

5. Augustana University

Sioux Falls

#836 in the United States

#904 in North America

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

6. Black Hills State University

Spearfish

#972 in the United States

#1042 in North America

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

7. Northern State University

Aberdeen

#1033 in the United States

#1105 in North America

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

8. University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

#1137 in the United States

#1212 in North America

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

9. Oglala Lakota College

Kyle

#1620 in the United States

#1707 in North America

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

10. Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell

#1668 in the United States

#1755 in North America

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

11. Mount Marty College

Yankton

#1781 in the United States

#1870 in North America

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

12. Presentation College

Aberdeen

#1912 in the United States

#2004 in North America

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

13. Sinte Gleska University

Mission

#1928 in the United States

#2021 in North America

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

14. National American University - Rapid City

Rapid

#2011 in the United States

#2104 in North America

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

15. Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls

#2043 in the United States

#2136 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	68
North Dakota	14	182
Minnesota	48	14
Wyoming	1	144
Iowa	39	48
Kansas	32	72
Colorado	38	44
Montana	12	154
Wisconsin	47	13
Missouri	67	39
Oklahoma	31	96
Illinois	100	15
Utah	20	41
Idaho	10	147
Michigan	62	3
Indiana	55	32
Arkansas	24	127
New Mexico	12	82
Kentucky	38	61
Ohio	90	18
Texas	119	26
Arizona	25	34
Tennessee	56	50
Nevada	10	131
Mississippi	18	132
Washington	57	8
Oregon	31	63
Louisiana	27	79
West Virginia	26	110
Alabama	33	85
Pennsylvania	155	12
California	249	2
Georgia	63	47
Virginia	63	40
North Carolina	65	24
District of Columbia	15	55
South Carolina	37	88
New York	221	4
Maryland	34	9
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	111
Connecticut	28	10
New Hampshire	16	77
Massachusetts	88	1
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	153
Florida	109	23
Alaska	6	177
Puerto Rico	52	360
US Virgin Islands	1	796
Hawaii	10	159
American Samoa	1	1705
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1596
Guam	2	616

Closest to South Dakota states