2026 Best Registered Nursing Schools in South Dakota
Registered Nursing 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Registered Nursing in South Dakota
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
Leading the list is South Dakota State University, our #1 school for registered nursing. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 354 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from South Dakota State University earn around $99,864 in the first couple years of their career. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for South Dakota State University
University Of South Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 126 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of South Dakota earn around $71,758 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $32,298 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of South Dakota
Augustana College South Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Augustana College South Dakota awarded about 46 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,237 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Mitchell Technical Institute is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #4. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public institution. Mitchell Technical Institute awarded about 21 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Mitchell Technical Institute earn around $47,686 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,730.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Mitchell Technical Institute
A rank of #5 makes Southeast Technical Institute one of the top schools for registered nursing. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. There were roughly 39 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Southeast Technical Institute earn around $62,601 in the first couple years of their career. Southeast Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $28,239 in student loans.
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Mount Marty College placed #6 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Mount Marty College graduates 52% of students within six years. Mount Marty College awarded about 22 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Mount Marty College generally make around $152,247. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Mount Marty College
Lake Area Technical Institute earned the #7 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. About 47 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Lake Area Technical Institute in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $66,233 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,212 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Lake Area Technical Institute
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 38 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Sioux Falls in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $70,622 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Sioux Falls
Dakota Wesleyan University earned the #9 position for registered nursing this year. Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mitchell. Dakota Wesleyan University graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Dakota Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $67,981 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University
Western Dakota Technical Institute earned the #10 position for registered nursing this year. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public school located in the city of Rapid City. Western Dakota Technical Institute awarded about 34 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $37,839 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,620.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Western Dakota Technical Institute
Oglala Lakota College earned the #11 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public institution. About 9% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Oglala Lakota College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Oglala Lakota College
More Registered Nursing Rankings
View All Registered Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 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.
