Best Community Colleges in South Dakota 2024

Badge for BEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated 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.

Best Community Colleges in South Dakota

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  1. Sinte Gleska University
  2. Lake Area Technical College
  3. Oglala Lakota College
  4. Sisseton Wahpeton College
  5. Western Dakota Technical Institute
  6. Mitchell Technical College
  1. Sinte Gleska University
  2. Oglala Lakota College
  3. Sisseton Wahpeton College
  4. Lake Area Technical College
  5. Western Dakota Technical Institute
  6. Mitchell Technical College
    1. Lake Area Technical College 17 to 1
    2. Sinte Gleska University 16 to 1
    3. Mitchell Technical College 13 to 1
    4. Oglala Lakota College 10 to 1
    5. Western Dakota Technical Institute 9 to 1
    6. Sisseton Wahpeton College 7 to 1
    1. Western Dakota Technical Institute $8,286
    2. Mitchell Technical College $7,524
    3. Lake Area Technical College $6,718
    4. Sinte Gleska University $4,714
    5. Sisseton Wahpeton College $4,330
    6. Oglala Lakota College $2,684
    1. Oglala Lakota College $2,070
    2. Sinte Gleska University $1,500
    1. Mitchell Technical College
    2. Western Dakota Technical Institute
    3. Sisseton Wahpeton College
    4. Oglala Lakota College
    5. Lake Area Technical College
    6. Sinte Gleska University
    1. Mitchell Technical College
    2. Western Dakota Technical Institute
    3. Lake Area Technical College
    4. Sisseton Wahpeton College
    5. Oglala Lakota College
    6. Sinte Gleska University
      1. Sisseton Wahpeton College 7 to 1
      2. Western Dakota Technical Institute 9 to 1
      3. Oglala Lakota College 10 to 1
      4. Mitchell Technical College 13 to 1
      5. Sinte Gleska University 16 to 1
      6. Lake Area Technical College 17 to 1
      1. Oglala Lakota College $2,684
      2. Sisseton Wahpeton College $4,330
      3. Sinte Gleska University $4,714
      4. Lake Area Technical College $6,718
      5. Mitchell Technical College $7,524
      6. Western Dakota Technical Institute $8,286
      1. Sinte Gleska University $1,500
      2. Oglala Lakota College $2,070

      Colleges and Universities in South Dakota

      Almost 20 higher education institutions award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the state, and only two schools exceed 5,000 in student population. The average college tuition in the state is $8,450, which is under the national average. Of the 11 public institutions, South Dakota State University is the largest with just over 10,000 students, and it has a tuition of $9,000.

      Find college admissions consultants in your state.

      With a comparable tuition, the University of South Dakota is the second largest and located in Vermillion. Students can earn degrees in areas such as earth science, physics, and engineering. Eight private schools offer degrees ranging in tuition from $3,000 to $33,000. Many of these universities are religiously affiliated, Augustana University being the largest and most expensive. This Lutheran university is located in Sioux Falls and offers programs in economics, psychology, and biology. The most affordable colleges, Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska University, are both tribal institutions charging $3,000 in fees.

      Two monuments are carved into the rock of the Black Hills: Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. In addition to its majestic mountains, South Dakota’s lands are some of the richest in fossils. Badlands National Park is home to unique rock formations as well as the fossils of saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and ancient marine animals. With vast plains and unique mountains, South Dakota offers a stunning setting for students looking to earn their degree in The Mount Rushmore State.

      Find out more about the top programs and higher education opportunities available in South Dakota.


      What are South Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

      South Dakota’s Best Overall

      South Dakota's Best Community Colleges Badge
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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

      1. Tuition + fees

        $5K

        Graduation

        10%

        Student body

        1K

        Career Outlook for degree at Sinte Gleska University

        Cost of Degree: $4,714
        Starting Salary: $20,500
        What is Sinte Gleska University known for?

        Sinte Gleska University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      2. Tuition + fees

        $7K

        Graduation

        70%

        Student body

        3K

        Career Outlook for degree at Lake Area Technical College

        Cost of Degree: $6,718
        Starting Salary: $38,900
        What is Lake Area Technical College known for?

        Lake Area Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      3. Tuition + fees

        $3K

        Graduation

        6%

        Student body

        2K

        Career Outlook for degree at Oglala Lakota College

        Cost of Degree: $2,684
        Expenses: $12,850
        Starting Salary: $20,600
        Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Oglala Lakota College known for?

        Oglala Lakota College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      4. Tuition + fees

        $4K

        Graduation

        6%

        Student body

        <1K

        Career Outlook for degree at Sisseton Wahpeton College

        Cost of Degree: $4,330
        Expenses: $7,700
        Starting Salary: $26,800
        Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
        Paid back at 15% of annual salary
        What is Sisseton Wahpeton College known for?

        Sisseton Wahpeton College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      5. Tuition + fees

        $8K

        Graduation

        53%

        Student body

        2K

        Career Outlook for degree at Western Dakota Technical Institute

        Cost of Degree: $8,333
        Starting Salary: $37,900
        What is Western Dakota Technical Institute known for?

        Western Dakota Technical Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

      6. Tuition + fees

        $8K

        Graduation

        71%

        Student body

        1K

        Career Outlook for degree at Mitchell Technical College

        Cost of Degree: $7,524
        Starting Salary: $45,400
        What is Mitchell Technical College known for?
      2021 Ranking Archive

      Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.

      1. Oglala Lakota College
      2. Sinte Gleska University
      3. Sisseton Wahpeton College
      4. Western Dakota Technical Institute
      5. Mitchell Technical College
      6. Lake Area Technical College
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