2024 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Dakota
It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in South Dakota ranking is part of that endeavor.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
Finding Your Best School Match
Our analysis looked at 10 schools in South Dakota to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Average Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. After all, your degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
Upon graduation, bachelor's degree recipients from schools in South Dakota have accumulated an average of $32,117 in student debt.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
To learn more, visit our best colleges ranking methodology page.
More Rankings to View
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narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in South Dakota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
1,977
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$42,852
Average Early-Career Earnings
$25,875
Average Student Debt
Our 2024 rankings named South Dakota State University the best school in South Dakota in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,977 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State make an average of $42,852 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,875 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $173.
Read full report on South Dakota State University
1,333
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$37,775
Average Early-Career Earnings
$26,140
Average Student Debt
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Dakota. The school came in at #2 in South Dakota on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,333 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from USD make an average of $37,775 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,140. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $156.
Full University of South Dakota Report
567
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$39,104
Average Early-Career Earnings
$26,215
Average Student Debt
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Augustana University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in South Dakota. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 567 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Augustana Sioux Falls is $39,104 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,215 in student loans.
Full Augustana University Report
364
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$41,074
Average Early-Career Earnings
$27,400
Average Student Debt
Out of the 10 bachelor’s degree schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Dakota State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Madison, South Dakota, the small public school handed out 364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Dakota State is $41,074 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,400 in student loans.
Learn More About Dakota State University
125
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$50,052
Average Early-Career Earnings
$27,744
Average Student Debt
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in South Dakota list means Mount Marty University is a great place for students working on their degree. Mount Marty University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Yankton, South Dakota that handed out 125 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Mount Marty is $50,052 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,744 in student loans.
Learn More About Mount Marty University
254
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$38,369
Average Early-Career Earnings
$27,500
Average Student Debt
Northern State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking, coming in at #6. NSU is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 254 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from NSU make an average of $38,369 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,500 after getting their degree.
Learn More About Northern State University
244
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$44,533
Average Early-Career Earnings
$50,357
Average Student Debt
National American University - Rapid City landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 244 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from National American University - Rapid City go into careers with an average salary of $44,533 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $50,357.
Full National American University - Rapid City Report
375
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$36,763
Average Early-Career Earnings
$26,646
Average Student Debt
University of Sioux Falls came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 375 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from University of Sioux Falls make an average of $36,763 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,646.
Learn More About University of Sioux Falls
430
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$31,078
Average Early-Career Earnings
$28,731
Average Student Debt
Black Hills State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking. Black Hills State University is a small public school located in Spearfish, South Dakota that handed out 430 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from BHSU make an average of $31,078 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $28,731 in student loans.
Full Black Hills State University Report
163
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$44,601
Average Early-Career Earnings
$34,288
Average Student Debt
With a ranking of #10, Dakota Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in South Dakota list. Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mitchell, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 163 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Dakota Wesleyan University make an average of $44,601 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $34,288 in student loans.
Learn More About Dakota Wesleyan University
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