Best Colleges in South Dakota

Why Should I Consider Studying in South Dakota?

Attending college in South Dakota can be an exciting experience. The opportunities for adventure in the state range from the majestic Black Hills, to the mighty Missouri River, to the vast Great Plains. South Dakota has a wide array of cultural activities to go along with great job opportunities and a strong economy.

In terms of higher education, South Dakota is home to several respected colleges and universities. The University of South Dakota in Vermillion is the state’s largest public university. USD offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a variety of disciplines. South Dakota State University is another great option with graduate and undergraduate degree programs focusing on agriculture, business, and engineering.

South Dakota also hosts a number of private Christian universities which may be good choices for students looking for a smaller school experience. Dakota Wesleyan University and Black Hills State University are the two most popular of the smaller, Christian universities in the state.

South Dakota Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in South Dakota

South Dakota has the 9th fewest colleges in the United States with 27 colleges. For context, that is 580 fewer colleges than the leading state. 52% of South Dakota's colleges are private and 48% of its colleges are public. (14 private colleges & 13 public colleges). It has the 11th highest public to private college ratio in America.

Our favorite colleges in South Dakota are Augustana University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and Mitchell Technical College. South Dakota State University has more students than all other public colleges in the top 25 colleges with 13,937. National American University-Rapid City has the most students of any private college in our top 25 (2,925).

Students in South Dakota

The most popular state has 3,747,479 college students. South Dakota has 3,679,099 fewer. There are 56,875 public college students and 11,505 private college students in South Dakota. It has fewer public college students than 41 states and fewer private college students than 45 states. Its 68,380 total students make it the 6th least popular place in the United States of America. 83% of students in South Dakota are enrolled in public colleges which is the 17th highest percentage coast-to-coast.