Find Nursing Colleges

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota

12 Colleges
$67,210 Avg Salary
$40,770 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in South Dakota with 1,022 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in South Dakota to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Nursing Schools

#1

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD

Our 2023 rankings named Mount Marty University the best school in South Dakota for nursing students. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Yankton.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Mount Marty accumulate an average of around $98,639 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Mount Marty University Report

#2

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Augustana University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls, Augustana Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Augustana Sioux Falls carry an average student debtload of $25,000.

Read More…

The excellent programs at South Dakota State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in South Dakota. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the town of Brookings.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at South Dakota State take out is $41,014. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $210.

Read full report on Nursing at South Dakota State University

#4

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the town of Vermillion, USD is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from USD carry an average student debtload of $19,957. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $168.

Read full report on Nursing at University of South Dakota

Out of the 12 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Area Technical Institute landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the remote town of Watertown, LATI is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at LATI accumulate an average of around $18,707 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Lake Area Technical Institute Report

#6

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD

Southeast Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the rural area of Sioux Falls, Southeast Tech is a public college with a small student population.

Nursing majors at Southeast Tech take out an average of $19,527 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#7

Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD

Presentation College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the remote town of Aberdeen, Presentation College is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Presentation College take out is $28,125.

Full Nursing at Presentation College Report

#8

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD

University of Sioux Falls ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls, University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at University of Sioux Falls accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt.

Read More…

Dakota Wesleyan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Mitchell.

Nursing majors at Dakota Wesleyan University take out an average of $24,855 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Dakota Wesleyan University

Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in the rural area of Rapid City, Western Dakota Tech is a public college with a small student population.

Full Nursing at Western Dakota Technical Institute Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 14,890
North Dakota 976
Nebraska 1,908
Kansas 2,633
Iowa 2,966
Missouri 6,840

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 262,974
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,647
Nursing Practice 8,862
Nursing Administration 8,663
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 4,717
Nursing Science 4,701
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,895
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,075
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 2,011
Nurse Anesthetist 1,768
Critical Care Nursing 747
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 622
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 567
School Nursing 539
Clinical Nurse Leader 502
Clinical Nurse Specialist 340
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 269
Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing 262
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 192
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 87
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 26
Forensic Nursing 23
Palliative Care Nursing 13

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 85,339

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited nursing schools across the U.S.