by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 13 schools across South Dakota to determine which have the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking is to look at the school's average net price - the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Lake Area Technical Institute the best value (with aid) school in South Dakota. Lake Area Technical Institute is a small public school located in Watertown, South Dakota.
Not only is Lake Area Technical Institute a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in South Dakota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,069.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mitchell Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota list. Mitchell, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Mitchell Technical College has the honor of being ranked #7 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,190.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota list means South Dakota State University is a great place for students working on their degree. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, South Dakota State University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of South Dakota. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $17,859 a year.
The quality degree programs at Southeast Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southeast Technical College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of South Dakota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $15,186.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota State University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota list. This small public school is located in Madison, South Dakota.
Dakota State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $17,572 a year.
With a ranking of #6, National American University - Rapid City did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota list. National American University - Rapid City is a private for-profit institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Not only is National American University - Rapid City a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in South Dakota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $15,438.
University of South Dakota landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota.
University of South Dakota has the honor of being ranked #5 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $18,974 a year.
Northern State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the school is a small public institution.
Northern State University has the honor of being ranked #9 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $16,821 a year.
Mount Marty University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking. Mount Marty University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Yankton, South Dakota.
Not only is Mount Marty University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $21,359 a year.
Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking. Western Dakota Tech is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Dakota Technical Institute is ranked #13 for quality in the state of South Dakota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,934.
Learn More About Value at Western Dakota Technical Institute
Black Hills State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking, coming in at #11. BHSU is a public institution located in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Black Hills State University has the honor of being ranked #12 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $15,895 a year.
University of Sioux Falls landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Sioux Falls is ranked #11 for quality in the state of South Dakota. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $21,333 a year.
Augustana University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in South Dakota ranking. Augustana Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Augustana University is ranked #4 for quality in the state of South Dakota. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $26,795 a year.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.