2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in South Dakota? This list ranks 27 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 10 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in South Dakota
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is Northern State University, our #1 best-value Graduate Degrees school in South Dakota. Set in Aberdeen, SD, Northern State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,845, with out-of-state students paying around $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,618. That is a strong return on a $26,143 median debt. Northern State University has an acceptance rate of 93%. See the full Northern State University profile
You'll get strong value at Dakota State University, which ranked #2 this year. Dakota State University is a public school based in Madison, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, while out-of-state students pay about $12,756. Dakota State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,724 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,970. That is a strong return on a $28,724 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. More on Dakota State University
Out of the 10 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, University Of South Dakota landed the #3 spot. Based in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. University Of South Dakota Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,322 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,926. Set against $26,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
A rank of #4 makes Mount Marty College one of the best values in South Dakota. Set in Yankton, SD, Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Mount Marty College Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,179. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%. Read more about Mount Marty College
A rank of #5 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values in South Dakota. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $24,989. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,070 ten years after entry. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. Read more about South Dakota State University
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,103. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,521. That is a strong return on a $26,103 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Sioux Falls
Black Hills State University placed #7 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. Set in Spearfish, SD, Black Hills State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,820. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,674 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,820 median debt. About 96% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Black Hills State University
Dakota Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,790. Dakota Wesleyan University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $31,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,728 ten years after entry. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 73% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Dakota Wesleyan University profile
National American University Rapid City placed #9 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. Set in Rapid City, SD, National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,065. Graduates carry a median of $38,264 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,325 ten years after entry. Set against $38,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full National American University Rapid City profile
Augustana College South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,160. Graduates carry a median of $26,217 in student loans. Median earnings reach $59,217 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College South Dakota has an acceptance rate of 68%. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Stewart School
Stewart School ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Stewart School profile
Sinte Gleska University placed #13 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. See the full Sinte Gleska University profile
Southeast Technical Institute placed #14 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. Read more about Southeast Technical Institute
Sioux Falls Seminary landed the #15 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read more about Sioux Falls Seminary
Black Hills Beauty College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Black Hills Beauty College report
Sanford Medical Center placed #17 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Oglala Lakota College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Oglala Lakota College report
California Intercontinental University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about California Intercontinental University
Headlines Academy Inc came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Headlines Academy Inc
Institute Of Lutheran Theology offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Western Dakota Technical Institute placed #22 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in South Dakota. See the full Western Dakota Technical Institute profile
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #23 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Lake Area Technical Institute
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Sisseton Wahpeton College profile
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology landed the #25 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #26 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Mitchell Technical Institute
Hot Rod Institute came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Hot Rod Institute profile
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 10 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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