by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 22 colleges that stand out for their student bodies in South Dakota, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated 22 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is California Intercontinental University, our #1 most ethnically diverse college in South Dakota. The school's ethnic diversity score is 76.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 76.7, alongside a 99.5 gender-diversity score.
Augustana University earned the #2 place in South Dakota. On ethnic diversity, it scores 54.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 54.6, alongside a 96.0 gender-diversity score.
Out of the 22 colleges in South Dakota in this year's ranking, Institute of Lutheran Theology landed the #3 spot. On ethnic diversity, it scores 45.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.5, and gender diversity 76.1.
Mount Marty University came in at #4 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in South Dakota. Mount Marty University scores 45.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 45.4, with a gender-diversity score of 99.8.
Kairos University earned the #5 place in South Dakota. It scores 45.3 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.3, with a gender-diversity score of 94.6.
Black Hills State University placed #6 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in South Dakota. Black Hills State University scores 45.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 45.1, alongside a 94.5 gender-diversity score.
Black Hills Beauty College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 45.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 45.0, with a gender-diversity score of 13.7.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology placed #8 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in South Dakota. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology scores 43.6 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 43.6, alongside a 83.4 gender-diversity score.
Stewart School landed the #9 spot in South Dakota this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 42.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 42.6, alongside a 7.6 gender-diversity score.
Southeast Technical College placed #10 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in South Dakota. It scores 42.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 42.5, with a gender-diversity score of 98.6.
University of South Dakota landed the #11 spot in South Dakota this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 42.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 42.5, with a gender-diversity score of 94.8.
Dakota State University earned the #12 position in South Dakota. Dakota State University scores 41.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 41.9, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Western Dakota Technical College landed the #13 spot in South Dakota this year. Western Dakota Technical College scores 41.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 41.0, and gender diversity 99.1.
University of Sioux Falls came in at #14 in this year's ranking. The school's ethnic diversity score is 40.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 40.6, alongside a 98.0 gender-diversity score.
South Dakota State University landed the #15 spot in South Dakota this year. It scores 36.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 36.9, alongside a 98.5 gender-diversity score.
Dakota Wesleyan University placed #16 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in South Dakota. The school's ethnic diversity score is 33.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 33.9, and gender diversity 98.7.
Northern State University landed the #17 spot in South Dakota this year. It scores 31.2 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 31.2, and gender diversity 95.0.
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 26.9 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 26.9, with a gender-diversity score of 93.3.
Mitchell Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 25.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 25.6, and gender diversity 94.2.
Sinte Gleska University placed #20 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in South Dakota. Sinte Gleska University scores 22.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 22.0, with a gender-diversity score of 79.5.
Lake Area Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. It scores 21.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 21.9, with a gender-diversity score of 99.8.
Oglala Lakota College landed the #22 spot in South Dakota this year. It scores 11.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 11.8, with a gender-diversity score of 87.6.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
