2025 Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota
11
Colleges in South Dakota
1,028
Nursing Degrees Awarded
$84,107
Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a degree in
nursing, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #3 most popular program in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.
For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in South Dakota to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,028 degrees in nursing annually.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Nursing School
The nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Nursing rankings. We derive our Best Overall Nursing School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Nursing Rankings by Degree Level
The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota.
More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you.
Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Read more about College Factual's methodology.
Best Schools for Nursing in South Dakota
The schools below may not offer all types of nursing degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.
10 Top South Dakota Schools in Nursing
It is hard to beat South Dakota State University if you wish to pursue a degree in nursing. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #425 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means South Dakota State is a great university overall.
There were approximately 418 nursing students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career income of $73,092.
More information about a degree in nursing from South Dakota State University
Mount Marty University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in nursing. Located in the remote town of Yankton, Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #293 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Mount Marty is a great university overall.
There were approximately 79 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mount Marty in the most recent data year. Those nursing students who get their degree from Mount Marty University make $60,107 more than the standard nursing graduate.
More information about a degree in nursing from Mount Marty University
Bachelors
Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN
Program Name
With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.
More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
University of South Dakota is a great option for students interested in a degree in nursing. USD is a moderately-sized public university located in the town of Vermillion. This university ranks 7th out of 13 colleges for overall quality in the state of South Dakota.
There were about 163 nursing students who graduated with this degree at USD in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, nursing degree recipients typically earn around $71,758 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of South Dakota
Associate Degree
Highest Degree Type
9th
Most Popular In SD
Any student who is interested in nursing needs to take a look at Lake Area Technical Institute. Located in the town of Watertown, LATI is a public school with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #274 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means LATI is a great school overall.
There were roughly 20 nursing students who graduated with this degree at LATI in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in nursing from Lake Area Technical Institute
Southeast Tech is a small public college located in the midsize city of Sioux Falls. A Best Colleges rank of #482 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Southeast Tech is a great college overall.
There were approximately 50 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Tech in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, nursing degree recipients generally earn around $62,601 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from Southeast Technical College
Augustana Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls. This university ranks 9th out of 13 colleges for overall quality in the state of South Dakota.
There were approximately 80 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Augustana Sioux Falls in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $72,237 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in nursing from Augustana University
Located in the town of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
There were about 40 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Dakota Wesleyan University in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $67,981 for their early career.
More information about a degree in nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University
Bachelors
Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN
Program Name
At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.
More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
University of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls. This university ranks 12th out of 13 schools for overall quality in the state of South Dakota.
There were approximately 74 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University of Sioux Falls in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients generally make around $70,622 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in nursing from University of Sioux Falls
Mitchell Tech is a small public college located in the remote town of Mitchell. This college ranks 8th out of 13 colleges for overall quality in the state of South Dakota.More information about a degree in nursing from Mitchell Technical College
Located in the city of Rapid City, Western Dakota Tech is a public school with a small student population. This school ranks 13th out of 13 colleges for overall quality in the state of South Dakota.
There were roughly 20 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Western Dakota Tech in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in nursing from Western Dakota Technical Institute
