2027 Best Value General Biology Schools in South Dakota
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general biology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general biology students.
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2027 Best Value General Biology Schools in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Biology Schools
Leading the list is Northern State University, our #1 best value for general biology in South Dakota. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $25,300. Early-career general biology graduates make about $45,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Black Hills State University earned it the #2 place for general biology. Set in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,916, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Students borrow a median of $20,619 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $33,518. Set against $20,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at South Dakota State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $32,940 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of South Dakota one of the best values for general biology. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. General Biology graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $30,167 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned it the #5 place for general biology. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Students borrow a median of $26,668 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of $75,838 early in their careers. Set against $26,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Sioux Falls earned the #6 position for value in general biology this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,196 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $46,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general biology schools. Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of Augustana College South Dakota earn a median of $50,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
More General Biology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
