2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in South Dakota
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for civil engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in South Dakota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked South Dakota State University the best value for a degree in civil engineering in South Dakota. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $69,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $27,388. Civil Engineering graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of $71,766 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,388 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
