Ranking

Best Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Colleges in South Dakota 2026

Oglala Lakota College leads this ROI ranking with a A+ value grade and a 29.71 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 11 colleges here by earnings against net price.

11 South Dakota colleges offering Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 11
Cheapest net price: $1,895
Top earnings 10y: $59,217
Public / Private: 7 / 4

Oglala Lakota College

A+

Kyle, SD · Public

ROI score: 29.71
Net price: $1,895
Earnings 10y: $22,517
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, SD · Public

ROI score: 9.42
Net price: $13,460
Earnings 10y: $50,743
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Western Dakota Technical College

Rapid City, SD · Public

ROI score: 7.94
Net price: $12,670
Earnings 10y: $40,240
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD · Public

ROI score: 7.11
Net price: $15,979
Earnings 10y: $45,473
Acceptance: Open / not reported

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public

ROI score: 6.94
Net price: $19,841
Earnings 10y: $55,070
Acceptance: 98.3%

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, SD · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.81
Net price: $19,735
Earnings 10y: $53,728
Acceptance: 73.4%

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD · Public

ROI score: 6.71
Net price: $17,400
Earnings 10y: $46,709
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public

ROI score: 6.54
Net price: $19,858
Earnings 10y: $51,926
Acceptance: 98.8%

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.37
Net price: $21,383
Earnings 10y: $54,521
Acceptance: 82.9%

#10

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.20
Net price: $23,894
Earnings 10y: $59,217
Acceptance: 67.8%

#11

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.42
Net price: $22,227
Earnings 10y: $48,179
Acceptance: 42.6%

How we picked this list

This list starts with South Dakota schools with positive Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 9.02 (7 public, 4 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many South Dakota colleges are in this list?

11 South Dakota colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.