by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 23 institutions ranked on how well they support veterans in South Dakota, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 23 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Narrow your list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
No school served veteran and military students better than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology this year in South Dakota. It scores 86.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 23 colleges in South Dakota in this year's ranking, University of South Dakota landed the #2 spot. It scores 82.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Dakota State University, which ranked #3 this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 81.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Mitchell Technical College, which ranked #4 this year. It scores 77.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Black Hills State University earned the #5 place in South Dakota. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Southeast Technical College placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in South Dakota. Southeast Technical College scores 75.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Mount Marty University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 81.9, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Lake Area Technical College landed the #8 spot in South Dakota this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
South Dakota State University landed the #9 spot in South Dakota this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Augustana University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Augustana University scores 68.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 69.2, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
California Intercontinental University landed the #11 spot in South Dakota this year. The school's overall veterans score is 67.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Northern State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 66.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Western Dakota Technical College earned the #13 position in South Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 63.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Sioux Falls earned the #14 position in South Dakota. University of Sioux Falls scores 62.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #15 spot in South Dakota this year. The school's overall veterans score is 60.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 82.5, and veteran resources 0.0.
Black Hills Beauty College landed the #16 spot in South Dakota this year. It scores 55.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
Stewart School landed the #17 spot in South Dakota this year. It scores 51.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Oglala Lakota College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Oglala Lakota College scores 49.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Sisseton Wahpeton College placed #19 among the best colleges for veterans in South Dakota. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 48.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Kairos University earned the #20 position in South Dakota. Kairos University scores 47.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall.
Sinte Gleska University earned the #21 position in South Dakota. The school's overall veterans score is 47.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Headlines Academy Inc ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Headlines Academy Inc scores 36.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Sanford Medical Center came in at #23 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 30.2 out of 100.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
