Colleges in South Dakota
All 22 degree-granting colleges in South Dakota, sorted by published in-state tuition. Click any column header to re-sort.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive college in South Dakota is $34,658 per year — about $138,632 over a four-year degree.
All 22 colleges, cheapest first
| College | In-state | Out-of-state | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oglala Lakota CollegePublicKyle · Less than 2-year | $2,684 | $2,684 | Public |
| 2 | Kairos UniversityPrivateSioux Falls · Less than 2-year | $3,600 | $3,600 | Private nonprofit |
| 3 | Sisseton Wahpeton CollegePublicSisseton · Less than 2-year | $4,330 | $4,330 | Public |
| 4 | Sinte Gleska UniversityPublicMission · Less than 2-year | $4,714 | $4,714 | Public |
| 5 | National American University-EllsworthFor-profitBox Elder · Less than 2-year | $6,675 | $6,675 | Private for-profit |
| 6 | Lake Area Technical CollegePublicWatertown · 2-year | $6,718 | $6,718 | Public |
| 7 | Mitchell Technical CollegePublicMitchell · 2-year | $7,524 | $7,524 | Public |
| 8 | Southeast Technical CollegePublicSioux Falls · 2-year | $7,650 | $7,650 | Public |
| 9 | Western Dakota Technical CollegePublicRapid City · 2-year | $8,333 | $8,333 | Public |
| 10 | Northern State UniversityPublicAberdeen · Less than 2-year | $8,845 | $8,845 | Public |
| 11 | Black Hills State UniversityPublicSpearfish · Less than 2-year | $8,916 | $8,916 | Public |
| 12 | South Dakota State UniversityPublicBrookings · Less than 2-year | $9,299 | $9,299 | Public |
| 13 | University of South DakotaPublicVermillion · Less than 2-year | $9,432 | $9,432 | Public |
| 14 | Dakota State UniversityPublicMadison · Less than 2-year | $9,633 | $9,633 | Public |
| 15 | Institute of Lutheran TheologyPrivateBrookings · Less than 2-year | $10,160 | $10,160 | Private nonprofit |
| 16 | South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyPublicRapid City · Less than 2-year | $10,440 | $10,440 | Public |
| 17 | National American University-Rapid CityFor-profitRapid City · Less than 2-year | $16,065 | $16,065 | Private for-profit |
| 18 | University of Sioux FallsPrivateSioux Falls · Less than 2-year | $20,290 | $20,290 | Private nonprofit |
| 19 | Presentation CollegePrivateAberdeen · Less than 2-year | $22,765 | $22,765 | Private nonprofit |
| 20 | Mount Marty UniversityPrivateYankton · Less than 2-year | $31,500 | $31,500 | Private nonprofit |
| 21 | Dakota Wesleyan UniversityPrivateMitchell · Less than 2-year | $31,890 | $31,890 | Private nonprofit |
| 22 | Augustana UniversityPrivateSioux Falls · Less than 2-year | $37,342 | $37,342 | Private nonprofit |
By city
Questions
What is the cheapest college in South Dakota?
Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, at $2,684 per year for in-state students. The next cheapest are Kairos University ($3,600), Sisseton Wahpeton College ($4,330), Sinte Gleska University ($4,714).
How much does college cost in South Dakota?
The median published in-state tuition is $9,299 per year across 22 colleges that reported. Community colleges sit at the low end; private four-year schools at the high end. Remember this is tuition and fees only — housing, food and books are extra.
Public or private — which is cheaper?
Public colleges usually have a much lower sticker price for state residents because taxpayers subsidize them. But private colleges often give larger scholarships, so the net price can end up similar. Always compare after aid, not before.
Do I have to live in South Dakota to get in-state tuition?
Generally yes, and the rules are stricter than people expect. Most states require 12 months of residency for reasons other than education, plus proof like a driver's license, voter registration and tax filings. Check the specific school's residency policy.
About this data
Every figure comes from IPEDS 2022 — the survey every U.S. college receiving federal student aid must complete. We list published tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates. Schools that did not report tuition appear at the bottom with a dash. Confirm current pricing on each school's website before applying.