by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in South Dakota, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 23 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed graduate schools using more than 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Augustana College South Dakota tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in South Dakota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux Falls, SD. Augustana College South Dakota graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,088 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,217.
The strong outcomes at Mitchell Technical Institute earned it the #2 place in South Dakota. Based in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,686. Typical student debt is $12,730.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in South Dakota in this year's ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #3 spot. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,260. Graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans.
University Of South Dakota came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in South Dakota. Located in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. University Of South Dakota graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,566. Students borrow a median of $26,322 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Southeast Technical Institute, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Southeast Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,654 early in their careers. Southeast Technical Institute students take on a median of $18,442 in debt.
Lake Area Technical Institute placed #6 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Lake Area Technical Institute is a public school based in Watertown, SD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,718. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,424. Graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Rapid City, SD, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public institution. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,500, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,838. The median student debt is $26,668.
Dakota State University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Located in Madison, SD, Dakota State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Students from in state pay about $9,654 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,756 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,970. Students borrow a median of $28,724 to complete a degree here.
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux Falls, SD. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,956. Typical student debt is $26,103.
Dakota Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Mitchell, SD. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $33,790 in tuition and fees. Dakota Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,856. The median student debt is $31,000.
Mount Marty College landed the #11 spot in South Dakota this year. Based in Yankton, SD, Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit institution. Mount Marty College graduates 52% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,600. Median early-career earnings reach $108,425. The median student debt is $27,000.
Northern State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Aberdeen, SD, Northern State University is a public institution. Northern State University graduates 55% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,143.
Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Rapid City, SD, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,839 early in their careers. Western Dakota Technical Institute students take on a median of $15,620 in debt.
Black Hills State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Spearfish, SD. Black Hills State University graduates 43% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Median early-career earnings reach $42,789. The median student debt is $26,820.
National American University Rapid City landed the #15 spot in South Dakota this year. Based in Rapid City, SD, National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,065. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,873 early in their careers. The median student debt is $38,264.
Oglala Lakota College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. Located in Kyle, SD, Oglala Lakota College is a public institution. Oglala Lakota College posts a six-year graduation rate of 9%. Students from in state pay about $2,684 in tuition and fees.
Sinte Gleska University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Mission, SD, Sinte Gleska University is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,714.
Sanford Medical Center placed #18 among the best graduate schools in South Dakota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux Falls, SD.
Sisseton Wahpeton College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Sisseton, SD, Sisseton Wahpeton College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,330.
Stewart School landed the #20 spot in South Dakota this year. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Stewart School is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $22,684. Typical student debt is $8,863.
Black Hills Beauty College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Rapid City, SD, Black Hills Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $24,068. Typical student debt is $12,500.
California Intercontinental University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, California Intercontinental University is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $104,340.
Headlines Academy Inc landed the #23 spot in South Dakota this year. This private for-profit school is set in Rapid City, SD. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $23,191. Students borrow a median of $9,619 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.