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Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota

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2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

12 Schools Ranked
$15,916 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$27,747 Avg Student Debt*

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota ranking. This report analyzed 12 schools in South Dakota to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Oglala Lakota College

Kyle, South Dakota
14 Total Awards
$2,684 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Oglala Lakota College to be the best value school for nursing students in South Dakota. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school situated in Kyle, South Dakota. It awarded 14 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oglala Lakota College are $2,684 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,450 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Oglala Lakota College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,569 during the early year of their career.

Full Oglala Lakota College Report

#2

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota
96 Total Awards
$6,718 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Area Technical Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Lake Area Technical Institute is a small public school located in Watertown, South Dakota that handed out 96 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LATI are $6,718 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,395 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $115 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, LATI graduates make an average of $36,525 annually.

LATI did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list.

Read More…

#3

Mount Marty University

Yankton, South Dakota
76 Total Awards
$29,980 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 12 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Mount Marty University landed the # 3 spot on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Yankton, South Dakota, and it awarded 76 degrees in 2020-2021.

Mount Marty undergraduate students pay an average of $29,980 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $31,631 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Mount Marty graduates make an average of $80,285 annually.

Mount Marty also made our Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list, coming in at #1.

Full Mount Marty University Report

#4

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
172 Total Awards
$7,650 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 172 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Tech are $7,650 per year. On average, students take out $20,379 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Southeast Tech graduates make an average of $39,912 annually.

Southeast Tech also took the #5 spot in our Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota rankings.

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#5

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, South Dakota
17 Total Awards
$7,524 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Mitchell Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in South Dakota. Mitchell Tech is located in Mitchell, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mitchell Tech are $7,524 a year. On average, students take out $14,782 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $156. Once they receive their degree, Mitchell Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,678 during the early year of their career.

Full Mitchell Technical College Report

#6

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
342 Total Awards
$12,809 Average Tuition & Fees

South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 342 degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 a year. On average, students take out $24,048 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $173, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, South Dakota State graduates make an average of $45,741 annually.

South Dakota State also made our Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list, coming in at #4.

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#7

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Rapid City, South Dakota
60 Total Awards
$8,332 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Dakota Technical Institute ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.

Western Dakota Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $8,332 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,757 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Western Dakota Tech graduates make an average of $37,539 annually.

Read full report on Western Dakota Technical Institute

#8

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
198 Total Awards
$12,942 Average Tuition & Fees

University of South Dakota landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 198 degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at USD are $12,942 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,040 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $156, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, USD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,161 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on University of South Dakota

#9

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
56 Total Awards
$19,900 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Sioux Falls landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 56 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Sioux Falls are $19,900 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,830 in student loans.After graduating from University of Sioux Falls, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,299 during the early years of their career.

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#10

National American University - Rapid City

Rapid City, South Dakota
1 Total Awards
$15,660 Average Tuition & Fees

National American University - Rapid City ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

National American University - Rapid City undergraduate students pay an average of $15,660 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,653 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, National American University - Rapid City graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,187 during the early year of their career.

Read More…

#11

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
83 Total Awards
$35,914 Average Tuition & Fees

Augustana University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in South Dakota ranking. Augustana Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 83 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Augustana Sioux Falls are $35,914 a year. On average, students take out $26,115 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Augustana Sioux Falls, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,631 during the early years of their career.

Augustana Sioux Falls did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota list.

Full Augustana University Report

#12

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, South Dakota
51 Total Awards
$30,880 Average Tuition & Fees

Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 51 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Dakota Wesleyan University are $30,880 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $30,274 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Dakota Wesleyan University graduates make an average of $50,275 annually.

Read full report on Dakota Wesleyan University

Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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