by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in South Dakota, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **14** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 14 graduate schools across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Augustana College South Dakota tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Set in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College South Dakota graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,088. Students borrow a median of $26,217 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of South Dakota, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Median early-career earnings reach $51,566. University Of South Dakota students take on a median of $26,322 in debt.
You'll be in good company at South Dakota State University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned it the #4 place in South Dakota. Located in Rapid City, SD, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Median early-career earnings reach $75,838. The median student debt is $26,668.
A rank of #5 makes Mount Marty College one of the top graduate schools in South Dakota. Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit school based in Yankton, SD. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,600. Mount Marty College graduates report median early-career earnings of $108,425. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Dakota State University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Based in Madison, SD, Dakota State University is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $12,756. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,970. The median student debt is $28,724.
University Of Sioux Falls placed #7 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,750 in tuition and fees. University Of Sioux Falls graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,956. Typical student debt is $26,103.
Dakota Wesleyan University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Set in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Dakota Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,856 early in their careers. Dakota Wesleyan University students take on a median of $31,000 in debt.
Northern State University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Aberdeen, SD, Northern State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,824. Northern State University students take on a median of $26,143 in debt.
Black Hills State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Black Hills State University is a public school based in Spearfish, SD. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,916, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,789. Students borrow a median of $26,820 to complete a degree here.
National American University Rapid City ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Rapid City, SD, National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,065. National American University Rapid City graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,873. Typical student debt is $38,264.
Sinte Gleska University landed the #12 spot in South Dakota this year. Set in Mission, SD, Sinte Gleska University is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $4,714 in tuition and fees.
Oglala Lakota College landed the #13 spot in South Dakota this year. Based in Kyle, SD, Oglala Lakota College is a public institution. Oglala Lakota College graduates 9% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,684.
California Intercontinental University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, California Intercontinental University is a private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $104,340 early in their careers.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.