2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in South Dakota? We have ranked 27 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 12 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in South Dakota
Explore the best-value schools below:
Oglala Lakota College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in South Dakota. Based in Kyle, SD, Oglala Lakota College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,684. Median earnings reach $22,517 ten years out. Read the full report on Oglala Lakota College
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #2 on this year's best-value 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,473. That is a strong return on a $13,674 median debt. Read the full report on Lake Area Technical Institute
A rank of #3 makes Mount Marty College one of the best values in South Dakota. Located in Yankton, SD, Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,600. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Marty College admits about 43% of applicants. See the full Mount Marty College profile
A rank of #4 makes Southeast Technical Institute one of the best values 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,709. Set against $18,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Southeast Technical Institute
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #5 on this year's best-value Nursing ranking 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. Median earnings reach $50,743 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
South Dakota State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 98% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about South Dakota State University
Western Dakota Technical Institute placed #7 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. 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. Median earnings reach $40,240 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $15,620 median debt. Read more about Western Dakota Technical Institute
University Of South Dakota placed #8 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Set in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,926. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
University Of Sioux Falls placed #9 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,750. The median Nursing program debt is $26,103. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,521 ten years after entry. Set against $26,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%. Read more about University Of Sioux Falls
National American University Rapid City landed the #10 spot for value 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full National American University Rapid City report
Augustana College South Dakota placed #11 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Located in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Augustana College South Dakota Nursing students take on a median of $26,217 in debt. Augustana College South Dakota alumni report median earnings of $59,217 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,217 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%. See the full Augustana College South Dakota profile
Dakota Wesleyan University placed #12 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Set in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,790. Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing students take on a median of $31,000 in debt. Dakota Wesleyan University alumni report median earnings of $53,728 a decade after entry. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%. Read more about Dakota Wesleyan University
Northern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Northern State University
Hot Rod Institute came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. See the full Hot Rod Institute profile
Sanford Medical Center came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Stewart School
Stewart School placed #16 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Get the full Stewart School report
Sioux Falls Seminary landed the #17 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read more about Sioux Falls Seminary
Dakota State University placed #18 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. More on Dakota State University
Institute Of Lutheran Theology offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Institute Of Lutheran Theology profile
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Headlines Academy Inc came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Headlines Academy Inc report
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital landed the #22 spot for value in South Dakota this year. See the full Avera Sacred Heart Hospital profile
California Intercontinental University placed #23 among the best-value Nursing schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Sinte Gleska University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full Sinte Gleska University report
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Black Hills State University landed the #26 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read more about Black Hills State University
Black Hills Beauty College landed the #27 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Black Hills Beauty College
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 12 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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