2026 Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in South Dakota? We have ranked 27 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in South Dakota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Mount Marty College earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in South Dakota. Located in Yankton, SD, Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit institution. Mount Marty College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,600. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full Mount Marty College profile
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Augustana College South Dakota came in at #2 on this year's Nursing ranking in South Dakota. Located in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Augustana College South Dakota Nursing students take on a median of $26,217 in debt. See the full Augustana College South Dakota profile
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Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #3 on this year's Nursing ranking in South Dakota. Based in Watertown, SD, Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans. Read the full report on Lake Area Technical Institute
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A rank of #4 makes South Dakota State University one of the top choices in South Dakota. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. South Dakota State University Nursing students take on a median of $24,989 in debt. Read more about South Dakota State University
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A rank of #5 makes Southeast Technical Institute one of the top choices in South Dakota. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Southeast Technical Institute is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,650. Southeast Technical Institute Nursing students take on a median of $18,442 in debt. Read more about Southeast Technical Institute
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University Of South Dakota did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. University Of South Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $26,322. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
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University Of Sioux Falls came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,750. The median Nursing program debt is $26,103. Read more about University Of Sioux Falls
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Western Dakota Technical Institute landed the #8 spot in South Dakota this year. Set in Rapid City, SD, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,294. Typical Nursing student debt is $15,620. Read more about Western Dakota Technical Institute
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Dakota Wesleyan University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Dakota Wesleyan University graduates 48% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,790. Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing students take on a median of $31,000 in debt. Read more about Dakota Wesleyan University
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Mitchell Technical Institute placed #10 among Nursing schools in South Dakota. Set in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. The median Nursing program debt is $12,730. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
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Oglala Lakota College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Kyle, SD, Oglala Lakota College is a public institution. Oglala Lakota College posts a six-year graduation rate of 9%. In-state tuition and fees average $2,684. Read the full report on Oglala Lakota College
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National American University Rapid City landed the #12 spot in South Dakota this year. National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit school based in Rapid City, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $16,065. Graduates carry a median of $38,264 in student loans. Get the full National American University Rapid City report
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Stewart School
Stewart School ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Stewart School report
Request InformationCalifornia Intercontinental University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Request InformationHot Rod Institute did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Hot Rod Institute profile
Request InformationSioux Falls Seminary ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Sioux Falls Seminary
Request InformationInstitute Of Lutheran Theology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. See the full Institute Of Lutheran Theology profile
Request InformationAvera Sacred Heart Hospital did well this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Avera Sacred Heart Hospital profile
Request InformationDakota State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Dakota State University
Request InformationHeadlines Academy Inc placed #20 among Nursing schools in South Dakota. Get the full Headlines Academy Inc report
Request InformationSinte Gleska University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Sinte Gleska University report
Request InformationNorthern State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Northern State University
Request InformationBlack Hills Beauty College landed the #23 spot in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Black Hills Beauty College
Request InformationSouth Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Request InformationBlack Hills State University placed #25 among Nursing schools in South Dakota. Read more about Black Hills State University
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Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Sanford Medical Center ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Request InformationSisseton Wahpeton College landed the #27 spot in South Dakota this year. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 18 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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