2026 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Dakota

Mechanical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for mechanical engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Dakota

Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in South Dakota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mechanical engineering education in South Dakota.

Top Schools in Mechanical Engineering

1

South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Rapid City, SD

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

93 Mechanical Engineering Degrees Awarded

$69,667 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology the best school in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Rapid City. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology graduates 52% of students within six years. About 93 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $69,667 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology

2

South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

81 Mechanical Engineering Degrees Awarded

$67,791 Median Starting Salary

South Dakota State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 81 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from South Dakota State University earn around $67,791 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from South Dakota State University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2 schools evaluated.

• 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.