2027 Best Value Health Professions Schools in South Dakota
[Health Professions](/majors/health-care-professions/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value health professions schools.
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2027 Best Value Health Professions Schools in South Dakota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the health professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Health Professions Schools
For return on investment in health professions, no school beat Western Dakota Technical Institute this year. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public school located in the city of Rapid City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Students borrow a median of $16,345 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Western Dakota Technical Institute generally make around $50,277. That is a strong return on a $16,345 median debt.
Mitchell Technical Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,524. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $15,275 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $54,907. Set against $15,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in health professions will find it at Northern State University, which ranked #3. Northern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Aberdeen. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Northern State University earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Area Technical Institute earned it the #4 place for health professions. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,718. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $22,503. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Lake Area Technical Institute generally make around $59,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in health professions will find it at Sinte Gleska University, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Mission, Sinte Gleska University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,714. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $20,948.
Southeast Technical Institute came in at #6 for value in health professions this year. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,650. Students borrow a median of $25,806 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $67,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Dakota State University landed the #7 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,233 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $99,043. Set against $28,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Dakota Wesleyan University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value health professions schools. Set in the town of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,790. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $67,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dakota Wesleyan University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of South Dakota landed the #9 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Students borrow a median of $30,392 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $69,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,392 median debt. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Sioux Falls landed the #10 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $31,000. Early-career health professions graduates make about $70,622. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Marty College landed the #11 spot for health professions value this year. Set in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Mount Marty College generally make around $152,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota earned the #12 position for value in health professions this year. Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Students from in state pay about $40,160 in tuition and fees. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $72,237. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
National American University Rapid City placed #13 among the best values for health professions. Located in the city of Rapid City, National American University Rapid City is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,065. Students borrow a median of $37,998 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $37,114. That is a strong return on a $37,998 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
