The average graduation rate of South Dakota colleges is 53.91%. It means that 53.91% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.
For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year South Dakota colleges, the average graduation rate is 44.60%, which means 44.60% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.
In South Dakota 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 65.50%.
For South Dakota colleges, Augustana University has the highest graduation rate of 72.97% among 4-year colleges. For South Dakota community colleges, Mitchell Technical College has the highest graduation rate of 76.26%.
The following table compares graduation rates between South Dakota colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.
For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.
| School | Graduation Rate (Completers) | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In 100% Normal Time | In 125% Normal Time | In 150% Normal Time | |||
| Augustana University4-Year College, private | 56.26% | 70.77% | 72.97% | 13% | 86% |
| The Salon Professional AcademyTrade School | 13.79% | - | 79.31% | - | 100% |
| Black Hills State University4-Year College, public | 29.41% | 40.20% | 42.65% | - | 72% |
| Dakota State University4-Year College, public | 34.22% | 46.52% | 48.93% | - | 75% |
| Dakota Wesleyan University4-Year College, private | 43.15% | 47.95% | 47.95% | 1% | 75% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid CityTrade School | 5.00% | - | 87.50% | - | 80% |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeCommunity College | 66.01% | - | 73.09% | 5% | 81% |
| Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic TechnologyCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeCommunity College | 71.94% | - | 76.26% | 4% | 85% |
| Mount Marty University4-Year College, private | 41.27% | 50.00% | 52.38% | 32% | 68% |
| National American University-Rapid City4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | 33% |
| Kairos University4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Northern State University4-Year College, public | 34.51% | 52.55% | 54.90% | 8% | 77% |
| Oglala Lakota College4-Year College, public | - | 3.13% | 9.38% | 2% | 62% |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology4-Year College, public | 24.07% | 50.11% | 51.64% | 1% | 84% |
| South Dakota State University4-Year College, public | 46.04% | 59.55% | 61.74% | - | 84% |
| Sinte Gleska University4-Year College, public | 50.00% | - | 50.00% | - | 100% |
| University of Sioux Falls4-Year College, private | 49.15% | 61.02% | 62.03% | 1% | 74% |
| Sanford Medical CenterCommunity College | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College4-Year College, public | - | - | - | - | - |
| Southeast Technical CollegeCommunity College | 51.86% | - | 58.84% | 1% | 70% |
| Stewart SchoolTrade School | 16.05% | - | 87.65% | - | 88% |
| University of South Dakota4-Year College, public | 47.35% | 57.87% | 60.20% | - | 79% |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeCommunity College | 52.90% | - | 54.19% | 5% | 67% |
| California Intercontinental University4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |
| Institute of Lutheran Theology4-Year College, private | - | - | - | - | - |