2025-26 Statistics

Colleges in South Dakota

At a Glance
Admission, Tuition, Population, and more
Updated: May 14, 2026
South Dakota has 29 colleges and universities.
28 schools offer undergraduate programs and 17 schools offer graduate programs.
In South Dakota, there are 1 ABA-accredited law schools and 1 LCME-accredited medical schools.
By school type, 13 public and 16 private colleges are active for the academic year 2024-2025 in South Dakota.
By school level, there are 19 4-Years Colleges, 7 Community Colleges, and 3 Technical Colleges in South Dakota.
4-Years CollegesCommunity CollegesTechnical Colleges
Total1973
Public940
Private (not-for-profit)630
Private (for-profit)403
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Average Tuition & Fees

For 4-year colleges, the average undergraduate tuition & fees are $7,597 for South Dakota residents and $9,900 for out-of-state students.
For graduate programs, the average tuition & fees are $6,501 for South Dakota residents and $11,078 for out-of-state students.
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4-Year Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, 4-year college tuition has increased 2.3% for in-state and 1.9% for out-of-state students at public schools.
At private schools, the tuition has increased 35.2%. See the detailed tuition history below.
South Dakota Colleges Tuition & Fees
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
SD ResidentsOut-of-State
2021$7,429$9,711$19,697
2022$7,620$9,925$20,200
2023$7,588$9,893$20,638
2024$7,584$9,887$21,034
2025$7,597$9,900$26,633
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Community Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, community college tuition has increased 0.7% for in-state and 0.7% for out-of-state students at public schools.
South Dakota Community Colleges Tuition & Fees
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
SD ResidentsOut-of-State
2021$7,491$7,491$2,500
2022$7,556$7,556$2,500
2023$7,556$7,556$2,500
2024$7,475$7,475-
2025$7,547$7,547-
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Graduate Schools Tuition

The graduate tuition has increased 0.1% for in-state and 1% for out-of-state students over the past 5 years
At private graduate schools, the tuition has increased 14.1%.
South Dakota Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
SD ResidentsOut-of-State
2021$6,493$10,968$16,395
2022$6,917$11,755$16,824
2023$6,756$11,596$17,003
2024$6,501$11,078$17,983
2025$6,501$11,078$18,706
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Living Costs

The average living costs at South Dakota colleges are $13,500 when a student lives on-campus and $14,913 when living-off campus.
On-campus living costs have increased 13.2% and off-campus costs have increased 19.9% over the past 5 years.
Living Costs at South Dakota Colleges
On-CampusOff-Campus
2021$11,921$12,443
2022$12,115$13,219
2023$12,397$13,834
2024$12,761$14,735
2025$13,500$14,913
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Admission & SAT Scores

On average, 82.3% of applicants are admitted to South Dakota colleges.
The admission rate ranges from 42.6% to 98.8% across colleges in South Dakota.
The average SAT score at South Dakota colleges is 1,180. SAT scores range from 1,060 to 1,320 across colleges in South Dakota.

Financial Aid

On average, 58.33% students have received grants and/or scholarships at South Dakota colleges. The average amount of aid received is $8,532
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Enrollment

A total of 55,147 students is attending South Dakota colleges - 45,705 undergraduate and 9,431 graduate students.
Of them, 17,380 students enrolled in online programs exclusively.
Total Number of Students
55,147
Undergraduate
45,705
Graduate
9,431
Online Students
17,380
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Faculty & Staff

A total of 3,648 faculties (instructional staffs) are working for colleges in South Dakota and the average faculty salary is $66,263.
There are 8,327 non-instructional staffs and its average salary is $67,269.
Number of Faculties
3,648
Average Faculty Salary
$66,263
Number of Staffs
8,327
Average Staff Salary
$67,269
Faculty/Staff Salary

Best South Dakota colleges

Dakota State University is ranked #1 in the South Dakota college rankings, followed by South Dakota State University in second place.
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Highest Tuition & Fees

Augustana University is the most expensive college in South Dakota with a tuition & fees of $40,160 and Mount Marty University has the second-highest tuition & fees of $34,600.
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Highest Graduate Tuition

For graduate programs, Augustana University requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $40,830 and Presentation College has the second-highest graduate tuition & fees of $18,613.
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Highest SAT Scores

Dakota State University has the highest SAT scores of 1,320 submitted by enrolled students and Augustana University has the second-highest SAT score of 1,255.
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Largest South Dakota colleges

South Dakota State University is the largest college with 12,056 students and University of South Dakota has the second-most students of 10,619.
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Largest Online colleges

University of South Dakota has the most online students of 3,777 students and South Dakota State University has the second-most online students of 2,300.
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