2026 Best Value General Psychology Schools in South Dakota

[General Psychology](/majors/psychology/general-psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general psychology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general psychology students.
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2026 Best Value General Psychology Schools in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Psychology Schools
Northern State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general psychology schools in South Dakota. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete the general psychology program here. General Psychology graduates of Northern State University earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern State University admits about 93% of applicants.
Black Hills State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Spearfish. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $35,996. That is a strong return on a $27,187 median debt. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
South Dakota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,608 in student loans. General Psychology graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $35,425 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Dakota earned it the #4 place for general psychology. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $24,593. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $31,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Sioux Falls is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Students from in state pay about $21,750 in tuition and fees. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,856 in student loans. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $27,241. That is a strong return on a $24,856 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota placed #6 among the best values for general psychology. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $39,098. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.