Top Value Colleges in South Dakota
Top Value South Dakota Colleges
Below you will find a list of the top value colleges in South Dakota that we found to provide the highest academic and career-based value for students. In our study, we utilized a number of data sources from the US Census Bureau to the US Department of Education coupled with student and alumni feedback to ascertain the important elements of value in a college education. Our team collected college data and arrived at the top value South Dakota colleges for you to research further. Remember to use your best judgment and prioritize your academic goals and career aspirations to narrow down your list of top colleges.
List of Top Value South Dakota Colleges
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) is a private university based in Mitchell, South Dakota. Having an affiliation with the United Methodist Church years after its founding in 1885 as Dakota University, the university is recognized as one of the best regional colleges in the state. With an average student body of 900, the university offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs that can be taken on-campus or online. DWU has three undergraduate colleges namely College of Arts and Humanities, Donna Starr Christen College of Healthcare, Fitness and Sciences, and College of Leadership and Public Service. Through its 4-Year Graduation Guarantee, the university ensures that its students will earn a bachelor’s degree in 4 years of personalized and hands-on education, putting emphasis on academics, faith, leadership, and service. DWU students also have access to university facilities such as the 24-hour Mac laboratory, McGovern Library and Legacy Museum, Dakota Discovery Museum, Corrigan Health Sciences Center, and DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Complex.
Mount Marty University
Mount Marty University (MMU) is a private Catholic liberal arts university headquartered in Yankton, South Dakota. It was formerly called Mount Marty College during its founding in 1936. Built with values like awareness of God and lifelong learning and service, the university has locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls as well. With more than 1,000 students in total from all campuses, MMU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 25 fields of study through its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. As a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the university is proud to provide 100% of students some form of financial assistance through scholarships, loans, grants, and employment. The Yankton campus, as the main campus, houses 4 residence halls, a student center, a chapel, a performing arts auditorium, as well as the Scholastica Learning Center and the Benedict’s Cafe. On the other hand, the Sioux Falls campus offers master’s and doctoral degree programs in Nurse Anesthesia which is currently the first of its kind within the state.
University of South Dakota
Founded in 1962, the University of South Dakota (USD) is a public research university in Vermillion, South Dakota considered the oldest university in the state. With nearly 10,000 students on its campus, it is repeatedly recognized as one of the best national universities in the United States. The university offers more than 200 undergraduate and nearly 80 graduate programs across 9 schools and colleges namely College of Arts & Sciences, Beacom School Business, Community College for Sioux Falls, School of Education, College of Fine Arts, School of Health Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, Knudson School of Law, and Graduate School. Since 1913, the USD has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and graduate degrees. The university also allows distance learning and leads off-campus sites through the USD Online and Off-Campus Education program where students can choose online programs from 6 schools and colleges. Students are also encouraged to participate in national conferences, join research teams, conduct research within and outside the country, and earn mini-grants through the university’s Honors Program, Service-learning, Undergraduate Research, and Global Learning/Study Abroad programs.
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (South Dakota Mines) is a public engineering, science and technology university based in Rapid City, South Dakota. It was founded in 1885 as Dakota School of Mines, four years prior to the statehood of South Dakota. Known for its STEM Academics, outstanding internship opportunities, and overall great value for education, undergraduate students may choose to major in one of the 20 engineering and science fields of study which include Geological Engineering, Mathematics, Pre-Professional Health Sciences, Business Management in Technology, and Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences. The university also offers Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in various engineering and science disciplines as well, with an option for undergraduates to apply for the Accelerated Master’s Program. Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, South Dakota Mines provides excellent science and engineering academics and research to its students and communities worldwide by leading multiple laboratories and centers like Advanced Manufacturing Process Technology Transition & Training, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station, and Sanford Underground Research Facility. Students may explore their passion and purpose through the university’s initiatives like WISE (Women in Science & Engineering), CAMP Center of Excellence, and Center for Inclusion.
University of Sioux Falls
Affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, the University of Sioux Falls (USF) is an independent private Christian liberal arts university based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Founded in 1883 as Dakota Collegiate Institute, USF has another campus four miles from the main campus that houses the university’s Sports Complex. With more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students, the university offers more than 100 degree options at the undergraduate and graduate levels. USF, accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, provides majors, degree completion programs, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degree programs in the fields of education, business, and nursing which can be taken both on-campus and online. The university’s Center for Professional Development also offers hundreds of programs related to professional development and continuing education options for adult learners, local businesses, and organizations. Students have tons of service and leadership opportunities within the university which include The Banquet, Kids Against Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, and Lunch is Served.
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University (SDSU) is a public land-grant research university situated in Brookings, South Dakota. Established in 1881 as a college, it is considered the oldest continually operating university in the state. Serving nearly 12,000 students, SDSU is also the largest and most comprehensive university in South Dakota. Offering more than 200 program offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the university allows students to complete their programs on-campus, online, or at various off-campus sites. SDSU houses 9 schools and colleges namely College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education and Human Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, Graduate School, and Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College. Governed by the Board of Regents of South Dakota, the university has been an accredited institution by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916. The SDSU Office of International Affairs also gives students the opportunity to study abroad through educational partners in six continents and international student services like Education Abroad and International Admissions.
Dakota State University
Founded in 1881 as a teacher training school, Dakota State University (DSU) is a public university based in Madison, South Dakota. It consistently ranks among the best universities in the United States, as well as one of the best online colleges in South Dakota. More than 3,300 on-campus and online students may choose from over 60 pre-professional, certificate, and bachelor’s degree programs in the fields of business, healthcare, education, technology, math and sciences, law, digital media, and many more. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1895, DSU also awards master’s and doctoral degrees in the fields of computer science, cyber defense, information systems, and analytics. As mentioned, students may choose to take their degree programs online through the university’s course management system called Desire2Learn (D2L) where almost half of the student body is currently enrolled. The university’s Research and Economic Development Affairs also provides multiple research opportunities to undergraduate students where some have earned recognition from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Center for Environmental Research, and NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.
Northern State University
Governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, Northern State University (NSU) is a public university located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was founded in 1901 as a student-centered community of scholars dedicated to fostering learning, teaching, creativity, and global awareness. As an accredited institution by the Higher Learning Commission, NSU offers nearly 60 majors, 45 minors, 6 pre-professional programs, and 9 graduate degree programs that can be completed on-campus or online. The university houses 5 schools and colleges namely the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Fine Arts, and Graduate Studies where students can choose from more than 100 degree and non-degree options. Known for its affordability, the university is recognized for having the largest guaranteed scholarship and grants in the Midwest. NSU is also proactive in providing several educational and cultural opportunities for students to volunteer in local agencies and community and regional events such as Constitution Day, Day of Champions, and The Pack Gives Back.
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University (BHSU) is a public liberal arts university headquartered in Spearfish, South Dakota. With nearly 4,000 students, the university also offers its programs on another campus in Rapid City, as well as through distance learning education options. The university offers more than 60 majors and minors, pre-professional and graduate degrees, and certificates in the fields of arts & humanities, behavioral sciences, business, education, general studies, math & social sciences, and natural sciences. With accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, BHSU offers selected majors, minors, graduate, and certificate programs online through its Desire2Learn (D2L) system. The university owns several research centers such as BHSU Herbarium, Center for Conservation of Biological Resources, Western South Dakota DNA Core Facility, and BHSU Underground Campus at the Sanford Underground Research Facility where students and faculty can work closely in high-level specialized research projects in various disciplines. Students who want to continue their studies abroad can check the BHSU exchange, sponsored, and international service-learning programs where they can finish their internships and programs abroad.
Presentation College
Began operating in 1951, Presentation College (PC) is a private college based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As the only college globally, that is sponsored by the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, PC is built on a Catholic intellectual tradition, resourcefulness, whole person education, learning community, and education of distinction. As a small college, PC offers around 15 undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of health and natural sciences, nursing, and social and behavioral sciences with select programs available for online distance learning. The college is an accredited institutional member of the Higher Learning Commission of The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Students have access to PC’s state-of-the-art Avera Simulation Center which is designed to simulate different hospital units such as pediatrics, critical care/intensive care, trauma, surgical, and obstetrics. The college also offers numerous non-credit continuing education courses available online for students who want to receive training for personal and professional skill development. The college also helps students who need financial assistance through college, graduate, and outside scholarships.
Paul Mitchell the School Rapid City
Paul Mitchell the School Rapid City, formerly known as Headlines Academy, is a full-service school of beauty located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school was first established in 1981 and accredited in 1985. In 2020, its name was officially changed to its current name as it became a Paul Mitchell franchise. As a fully accredited institution by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, the school has 4 main programs namely Cosmetology, Nail Technology, Esthetics, and Massage Therapy, ranging from 400 to 1500 hours of instruction and training. The students, or as the school calls them, future professionals, are given a complete set of tools and products needed to enter rewarding careers in the beauty industry. The school also offers scholarships to qualified students, as well as financial aid in the form of Federal Pell Grants, Federal Subsidized Loans, and PLUS loans. Since 2014, Paul Mitchell Schools throughout the United participate in an annual three-month FUNraising that has raised over $21 million for charities and communities within and outside the country.
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell Technical College (Mitchell Tech) is a public 2-year technical school headquartered in Mitchell, South Dakota. Established in 1968, it is one of the newest campuses in the region. With more than 1,000 students annually, the college offers other programs at the Technical Education Center in Yankton. Since 1989, Mitchell Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as an associate degree-granting institution. It offers more than 35 on-campus associate degree and certificate programs in the fields of health sciences, agriculture & transportation technologies, business & service industries, construction & manufacturing technologies, and energy production & transmission. It also offers 4 online degree programs, advanced technical education, and dual credit classes for high school students. The college’s Center for Student Success aims to help students succeed with their academic, personal, and professional goals through services like tutoring, coaching, counseling, advising, disability and learning services, computer access, and many more.
Lake Area Technical College
Lake Area Technical College (LATC) is a public community college situated in Watertown, South Dakota. It is the first technical school in the state with more than 22,000 graduates since its founding in 1965. Today, LATC continues to provide superior technical education to maintain the excellence of its students. The college offers more than 30 on-campus and online programs available to over 2,600 students specializing in the fields of Agriculture, Environmental Technology, High-Performance Engine Machining, Community Healthcare Worker, Computer Information Systems, Welding Technology, and many more. LATC also offers on-campus and online dual credit classes for high school students who want to earn college credits for their desired career pathway. Aside from offering certificate programs, LATC is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award associate degrees. As the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence awardee, the college partners with several organizations and institutions to improve the quality of education, training, and service it provides, and these include Build Dakota Scholarships/Stretch the Million Partnerships, Learn Where You Earn, and Impact Partners.
The Salon Professional Academy Rapid City
The Salon Professional Academy (TSPA) Rapid City, formerly known as Black Hills Beauty College, is a private cosmetology school located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school also houses a Student Salon Clinic that provides salon and spa services through trained students under the supervision of professionals. TSPA Rapid City is recognized for its Excellence in Education by the Redken 5th Avenue NYC. The school also partnered with the said brand to provide the skills and training in 4 main programs namely cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, and massage therapy. The programs can be accomplished within 19 to 47 weeks of comprehensive instruction and hands-on training. Qualified students may also apply for financial aid and scholarships from TSPA and from exclusive partnerships like the American Association of Cosmetology Schools and Beauty Changes Lives.
Stewart School
Stewart School is a private cosmetology school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has been providing comprehensive and hands-on training in the field of cosmetology since 1959. It also operates a student salon within the campus where trained students work under the supervision of professionals. The school offers 4 main programs namely cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, and massage therapy which equip students with the skills and confidence through hands-on instruction and business training that lasts for less than a year. In 2011, Stewart School was recognized for its school culture and job placement efforts by the Modern Salon Magazine. It was also named as a “School of Excellence” by its accreditor, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Since its founding, the school has been supporting organizations and institutions like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Children’s Inn, Children’s Care Hospital, Women in Business, Sioux Falls Humane Society, Go Red for Women, Pink Hearts Fund, and Big Paws Canine Foundation.
Southeast Technical College
Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Southeast Technical College (Southeast Tech) is a two-year college providing career education in more than 70 technical fields of study. It is recognized as the most affordable post-secondary institution in the state and among the best two-year colleges in the United States. Offering associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs in more than 70 areas of study, Southeast Tech is an accredited institution of the Higher Learning Commission. Also, the school is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the college offers programs like Business Administration, Construction Management Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Horticulture Technology, Law Enforcement Science, Information Technology Security, and Digital Media Production Technology. With online and hybrid business and marketing classes, students can earn their degrees in as fast as 8 weeks. Aside from these, Southeast Tech also offers dual credit classes for high school students, and non-degree certificate programs for adults where they can count some credits towards a degree.
Western Dakota Technical Institute
As the only technical college serving western South Dakota since 1968, Western Dakota Technical Institute or Western Dakota Tech is a public community college in Rapid City, South Dakota. It also leads two centers namely Medical Simulation Center and Corporate Education Center within the campus. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, South Dakota Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Education, Western Dakota Tech awards certificate and associate degrees to more than 40 areas of study in the fields of business and technology, health sciences, construction and manufacturing, energy and environmental technologies, legal and public services, and transportation technologies. With more than 1,200 students, it also offers 7 online degree programs and Practical Nursing Program courses at a satellite location in Whitewood, South Dakota. Some of the programs are Diesel Technology – Industrial Maintenance, Business – Hospitality, Environmental Engineering Technician – Controlled, Plumbing Technology, and Registered Nursing. Through the college’s Corporate Education Center, students, companies, and individuals in the community participate and attend in custom training, short-term classes, events, career programs, and seminars to help them become successful in their respective industries.
American Baptist College
American Baptist College (ABC) is a private, historically black liberal arts college based in Nashville, Tennessee. Affiliated with the National Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention, it was established in 1924 as the American Baptist Theological Seminary. For more than 70 years, the college is accredited with the Association for Biblical Higher Education to award associate and bachelor’s degrees. ABC offers two 2-year associate degrees in Music & Arts and General Studies, as well as four 4-year bachelor’s degrees in Bible & Theology, Behavior Studies, Theology, and Entrepreneurial Leadership. Students can join the college’s special initiatives such as Social Justice, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (SEAL) Initiative, Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Series, and Called to Lives of Meaning and Purpose. With just nearly 100 students, the college is dedicated to educating diverse students prepared for Christian leadership, public service, and social justice.
National American University – Rapid City
Headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, National American University (NAU) is a private online university owned by the National American University Holdings, Inc. It was founded as the National School of Business in 1941 and today, it is one of the leading innovators of online education in the United States. With accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, NAU grants certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 100 relevant technical and professional programs. The university houses four colleges and schools namely the College of Undergraduate Studies, Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security, Harold D. Buckingham Graduate School, and College of Legal Studies. The programs are 100% online and are specifically designed for working professionals, active military, stay-at-home adults, and other nontraditional students. The university also offers several scholarship opportunities for deserving students which include the Guy Tillet Maverick Pride Scholarship and Academic Excellence Award Scholarships from the NAU Foundation and Edith Nourse Rogers S.T.E.M. Scholarship.
Sinte Gleska University
Sinte Gleska University (SGU) is a private tribal land-grant university located in Mission, South Dakota. It was chartered in 1969 by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe to provide post-secondary education in the Rosebud Indian Reservation. It was named to its current name from Sinte Gleska College in 1992 through a traditional Lakota naming ceremony. With nearly 900 part-time and full-time students, SGU is an accredited institution of the granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers numerous programs in the fields of arts & sciences, business, education, nursing, and many more at the associate and bachelor’s degree levels. The university also offers Adult Basic Education through its GED Department to provide opportunities for adults without a high school diploma to earn their GED high school equivalency certificates. The program has helped more than 2,400 individuals since 1972. SGU lends its hands to students in need of counseling services, whether it’s personal, career, or financial aid.
Oglala Lakota College
Oglala Lakota College (OLC) is a public tribal land-grant community college situated in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. As one of the first tribally controlled colleges in the country, OLC traces its roots in 1971 when it was chartered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Accommodating more than 1,800 part-time and full-time students, the college houses 11 academic departments namely General Education, Business, Education, Foundational Studies, Graduate Studies, Humanities/Social Sciences, Lakota Studies, Math, Science & Technology, Nursing, Social Work, and Vocational Education. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to grant certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The college also offers online and hybrid courses through its distance learning program in its Virtual Campus. OLC also built college centers across nine districts in the reservation like Cheyenne River, Eagle Nest, He Sapa, LaCreek, Pahin Sinte, and Wounded Knee.
Additional College Research
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