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Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota

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2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota

10 Schools Ranked
$10,248 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,871 Avg Student Debt

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking. This report analyzed 10 schools in South Dakota to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
$9,299 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,354 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named South Dakota State University the best school in South Dakota for students working on their associate degree.

Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,299 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend South Dakota State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,809. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,354 in student loans.

Online courses are available at South Dakota State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full South Dakota State University Report

#2

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota
$6,718 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,724 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Area Technical Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota list.

LATI does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,718. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,724 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LATI. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Lake Area Technical Institute

#3

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
$7,650 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,480 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Southeast Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in South Dakota.

Southeast Tech does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,650. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Southeast Tech accumulate an average of $20,480 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at Southeast Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Southeast Technical College

#4

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota
$9,633 Average Tuition & Fees
$27,139 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota list.

Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,633 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Dakota State. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,735. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,139 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Dakota State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Dakota State University Report

#5

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, South Dakota
$7,524 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,633 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 10 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Mitchell Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list.

The average tuition and fees at Mitchell Tech is $7,524. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,633 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Mitchell Tech. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 27% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#6

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota
$8,845 Average Tuition & Fees

Northern State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota list.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NSU is $8,845. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,947.

NSU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Northern State University Report

#7

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
$19,900 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Sioux Falls landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.

The average tuition and fees at University of Sioux Falls is $19,900. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Sioux Falls does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full University of Sioux Falls Report

#8

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
$8,916 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,078 Avg Student Debt

Black Hills State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in South Dakota ranking.

Students from South Dakota who attend BHSU full time pay an average of $8,916 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,018. Associate Degree recipients from BHSU accumulate an average of $18,078 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at BHSU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Rapid City, South Dakota
$8,332 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,643 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #10, Western Dakota Technical Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,332 to cover tuition and fees at Western Dakota Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Western Dakota Tech accumulate an average of $20,643 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Western Dakota Tech. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Western Dakota Technical Institute

Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 10 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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