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 schools that stand out for their student bodies in South Dakota, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the balance of men and women across the student body. To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 22 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Diversity means different things to different students. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Lake Area Technical College earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in South Dakota. Lake Area Technical College scores 99.8 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 21.9, alongside a 99.8 gender-diversity score.
You'll find a welcoming community at Mount Marty University, which ranked #2 this year. The school's gender diversity score is 99.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.4, alongside a 99.8 gender-diversity score.
Dakota State University came in at #3 on this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in South Dakota. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 41.9, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
You'll find a welcoming community at California Intercontinental University, which ranked #4 this year. It scores 99.5 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 76.7, with a gender-diversity score of 99.5.
You'll find a welcoming community at Western Dakota Technical College, which ranked #5 this year. It scores 99.1 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 41.0, and gender diversity 99.1.
Dakota Wesleyan University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Dakota Wesleyan University scores 98.7 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 33.9, with a gender-diversity score of 98.7.
Southeast Technical College placed #7 among the most gender-balanced colleges in South Dakota. It scores 98.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 42.5, and gender diversity 98.6.
South Dakota State University placed #8 among the most gender-balanced colleges in South Dakota. On gender diversity, it scores 98.5 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 36.9, and gender diversity 98.5.
University of Sioux Falls earned the #9 position in South Dakota. It scores 98.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 40.6, with a gender-diversity score of 98.0.
Augustana University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. The school's gender diversity score is 96.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 54.6, alongside a 96.0 gender-diversity score.
Northern State University placed #11 among the most gender-balanced colleges in South Dakota. It scores 95.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 31.2, alongside a 95.0 gender-diversity score.
University of South Dakota landed the #12 spot in South Dakota this year. The school's gender diversity score is 94.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 42.5, and gender diversity 94.8.
Kairos University placed #13 among the most gender-balanced colleges in South Dakota. Kairos University scores 94.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 45.3, with a gender-diversity score of 94.6.
Black Hills State University earned the #14 position in South Dakota. On gender diversity, it scores 94.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.1, with a gender-diversity score of 94.5.
Mitchell Technical College earned the #15 position in South Dakota. The school's gender diversity score is 94.2 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 25.6, alongside a 94.2 gender-diversity score.
Sisseton Wahpeton College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. The school's gender diversity score is 93.3 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 26.9, with a gender-diversity score of 93.3.
Oglala Lakota College landed the #17 spot in South Dakota this year. On gender diversity, it scores 87.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 11.8, and gender diversity 87.6.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earned the #18 position in South Dakota. The school's gender diversity score is 83.4 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 43.6, with a gender-diversity score of 83.4.
Sinte Gleska University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. On gender diversity, it scores 79.5 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 22.0, alongside a 79.5 gender-diversity score.
Institute of Lutheran Theology came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Institute of Lutheran Theology scores 76.1 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.5, alongside a 76.1 gender-diversity score.
Black Hills Beauty College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. On gender diversity, it scores 13.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 45.0, and gender diversity 13.7.
Stewart School placed #22 among the most gender-balanced colleges in South Dakota. The school's gender diversity score is 7.6 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 42.6, with a gender-diversity score of 7.6.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the balance of men and women across 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
