Best Community Colleges in South Dakota 2025
Key Takeaways
- Six schools in South Dakota meet our criteria for the best community colleges in the state.
- Community colleges offer more affordable tuition rates than a traditional four-year college.
- Graduates with an associate degree can often transfer their credits into an accredited bachelor’s degree program.
Best Community Colleges in South Dakota in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best community colleges in South Dakota remained fairly stable. Mitchell Technical College gained a ranking position as the college has been recognized as one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, highlighting its high and improving levels of student success and equitable outcomes.
In collaboration with Avera Health, MTC has renovated its Radiologic Technology department, featuring a state-of-the-art laboratory classroom equipped with a new GE Definium Tempo fixed X-ray system. This enhancement aims to provide students with increased hands-on practice before their clinical placements.
Looking ahead, MTC is set to host the 2025 State Leadership & Skills Conference on April 10 and 11, 2025. This event will bring together hundreds of high school and college students to compete in approximately 50 competitions, ranging from technical to leadership skills, with opportunities to represent South Dakota at the national level.
The top-rated community colleges offer an accessible intro into higher education, with high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The best community colleges in South Dakota offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
Colleges and Universities in South Dakota
South Dakota has numerous excellent and highly respected community colleges. Many of these top South Dakota schools are noted for their affordability as well.
Students attending community colleges in South Dakota can earn an associate degree in popular subjects like business management, health services administration, health sciences, and criminal justice. South Dakota also has some of the most affordable community colleges in America, giving students the opportunity to pursue a wide range of on-campus and online degree programs for less than in many other states. The average tuition for a year at one of South Dakota’s six community colleges is $5,000.
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We’ve identified 6 community colleges in South Dakota. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in South Dakota.
Best Community Colleges in South Dakota
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
10%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Sinte Gleska University
Cost of Degree: $4,714Starting Salary: $20,500What is Sinte Gleska University known for?
Sinte Gleska University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Sinte Gleska University is a public tribal university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The school is a proud member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, a community that works together to strengthen tribal nations.
What we love about Sinte Gleska University:
Sinte Gleska University is committed to strengthening the Sicangu Nation through educational opportunities that promote indigenous models of research and teaching.
Sinte Gleska University is ideal for students who:
Find joy in attending a university that promotes and preserves the tribal nations’ way of life.
Sinte Gleska University might not be the best fit for students who:
Believe small class sizes and personalized instruction can be intrusive.
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
6%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Oglala Lakota College
Cost of Degree: $2,684Expenses: $12,850Starting Salary: $20,600Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Oglala Lakota College known for?
Oglala Lakota College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Oglala Lakota College is committed to rebuilding the Lakota Nation by educating students for professional and vocational employment in the county. It will also teach about the Lakota culture and language to prepare them to participate in a diverse cultural world.
What we love about Oglala Lakota College:
Oglala Lakota College encourages the practice and study of tribal sovereignty.
Oglala Lakota College is ideal for students who:
Value a college that supports communities by providing educational opportunities.
Oglala Lakota College might not be the best fit for students who:
Do not relate to the Lakota culture or way of life.
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
6%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Sisseton Wahpeton College
Cost of Degree: $4,330Expenses: $7,700Starting Salary: $26,800Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Sisseton Wahpeton College known for?
Sisseton Wahpeton College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Sisseton Wahpeton College offers programs of study that develop a student’s competencies while enriching their experiences and skills in their chosen areas. These programs also prepare them to transfer to four-year bachelor’s degrees.
What we love about Sisseton Wahpeton College:
Sisseton Wahpeton College welcomes students of all creeds, ethnic origins, nationalities, and races.
Sisseton Wahpeton College is ideal for students who:
Desire to be a part of a local college that encourages students to participate in cultural experiences.
Sisseton Wahpeton College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a college that doesn’t have lots of distractions, such as sports, clubs, and other organizations.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
70%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Lake Area Technical College
Cost of Degree: $6,718Starting Salary: $38,900Lake Area Technical College offers 31 career programs and 14 online e-degrees and certificates. This college is committed to providing an affordable education that prepares students for a career right after completion.
What we love about Lake Area Technical College:
Lake Area Technical College provides hands-on education and a great college experience.
Lake Area Technical College is ideal for students who:
Seek a college that produces graduates that are in demand in various industries.
Lake Area Technical College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a college that does not constantly pressure its students to serve the community around them.
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
71%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Mitchell Technical College
Cost of Degree: $7,524Starting Salary: $45,400What is Mitchell Technical College known for?
Mitchell Technical College first opened its doors in 1968 and has since produced over 19,000 graduates. Today, it offers 35 face-to-face and four online programs, some of which are regionally unique.
What we love about Mitchell Technical College:
Mitchell Technical College produces graduates who find employment within six months after graduation.
Mitchell Technical College is ideal for students who:
Are looking for a school that belongs to the top community colleges in the U.S.
Mitchell Technical College might not be the best fit for students who:
Seek a local college that has a student-faculty ratio of more than 16:1.
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
53%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Western Dakota Technical Institute
Cost of Degree: $8,008Expenses: $13,000Starting Salary: $37,900Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWestern Dakota Technical Institute is the only technical college in the western region of South Dakota. It ensures its students grow and develop their skills not only in the classroom but also through various clubs and organizations that provide networking opportunities.
What we love about Western Dakota Technical Institute:
Western Dakota Technical Institute provides career-oriented education to those who are working, in the military, or continuing their education.
Western Dakota Technical Institute is ideal for students who:
Yearn for a college that provides internships and other hands-on learning opportunities.
Western Dakota Technical Institute might not be the best fit for students who:
Are looking for student job opportunities to make paying for college easier.
2023 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
