2027 Best Value Psychology Schools in South Dakota
[Psychology](/majors/psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Psychology Schools in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychology Schools
For return on investment in psychology, no school beat Northern State University this year. Located in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete the psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $45,824. Set against $26,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Black Hills State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,916, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,187 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $35,996. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $25,608. Early-career psychology graduates make about $45,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Dakota earned it the #4 place for psychology. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Students borrow a median of $24,593 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $48,192 early in their careers. Set against $24,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Students looking for strong value in psychology will find it at University Of Sioux Falls, which ranked #5. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,856 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $27,241 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,856 median debt. University Of Sioux Falls admits about 83% of applicants.
Augustana College South Dakota came in at #6 for value in psychology this year. Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,160. Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $39,098. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
