Top South Dakota Colleges and Universities

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South Dakota is in the Midwest region of the United States. There are six public universities located in the state of South Dakota, five of which are discussed below.
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Top Five Schools in South Dakota

South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is a public educational institution and is located in Brookings. The university was founded in 1881 and has an undergraduate student population of 9,208. It is the largest university in the state of South Dakota. The university began as an agricultural college but later expanded to include other disciplines. Today it is known for its excellent programs in pharmacy, engineering, nursing, liberal arts and agriculture. One notable graduate is Theodore Schultz, the winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Economics. The estimated total cost for residents per year is $11,126 and $12,438 for non-residents.

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota is a public educational institution and was founded in 1862. The university also happens to be the oldest in the state; it also has the honor of being the state's only liberal arts university. The university is located in Vermillion and has an undergraduate student population of 6,408. The University of South Dakota has seven colleges and schools: Law, Medicine, the School of Education, the Beacom School of Business, the School of Health Sciences, the College of Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences. The university has the only law and medical schools in the state of South Dakota. The undergraduate tuition cost for residents is $2,643.20 and $4,108.80 for non-residents.

Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University, located in Spearfish, is a public educational institution. The university was founded in 1883 and has a student population of 4,004. This university is relatively small and began as a teacher's college. Now the university has grown to include 56 degree programs that entering freshmen or freshwomen can choose from. The university is made up of three separate colleges: the College of Business and Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. The undergraduate tuition for residents is $5,803 and $7,123 for non-residents.

Northern State University

Northern State University, located in Aberdeen, is a public educational institution. The university was founded in 1901 and has a student population of 2,200. The university is primarily focused on undergraduate degrees; however, it does confer nine graduate degrees. Northern State University's academic programs are divided among four schools and colleges: Education, Business, Arts and Sciences and Fine Arts. The undergraduate estimated cost for residents is $5,066 and $7,942 for non-residents.

Dakota State University

Dakota State University is a public educational institution and was founded in 1881. Located in Madison, Dakota State University has a student population of 2,507. Dakota State University places more emphasis on technology and skills-oriented programs of study. Many students that attend this university major in business, education, physical science or computer programming. Graduate programs are offered in educational technology, information assurance and information systems. The university also allows its students to use tablet PCs in classrooms. The undergraduate tuition cost for residents is $5,373 and $6,611 for non-residents.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA - General Management
      • BBA Human Resources Management
      • BBA Medical Services Management
      • BS Human & Social Services
      • General Management (GM) - BBA
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
      • AS - Business
      • AS - Criminal Justice
      • AS - Accounting
      • AS - Human Resources Specialist
      • AS - IT Networking
    Certificate
      • Business Assistant Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
      • Business - AAS
      • Business Assistant - Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Svcs. - Diploma
      • Accounting Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
      • Masters in Social Work
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk
      • Career Diploma - Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance
      • Career Diploma - Home Remodeling and Repair
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Campus and Online Programs
    7. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Science - Film Production
      • MS - Entertainment Business (Campus)
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Game Art Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Campus Locations:
    8. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Maintenance AAS
    Certificate
      • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician Specialist
      • Automotive Technology
      • Wind Power Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Diesel Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Doctor of Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Secondary Education
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
    Certificate
      • CTG: Communication
      • CTG: Criminal Justice
      • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
      • CTG: Higher Education Administration
      • CTG: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • CTG: Psychology
  • Rapid City, SD

    South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BA - General Management
  • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
  • Business Assistant Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

What is your highest level of education completed?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • BS in Psychology

What is your highest level of education?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Masters in Social Work

What is your highest level of education completed?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
  • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Master of Science - Film Production
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Universal Technical Institute

  • Aviation Maintenance AAS
  • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
  • Motorcycle Technician Specialist

What is your highest level of education completed?