2026 Best Value Science & Tech Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Science & Tech degree programs in South Dakota? We have ranked 27 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed 12 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 Science & Tech Degree Schools in South Dakota
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Lake Area Technical Institute to be the best-value Science & Tech school in South Dakota. Located in Watertown, SD, Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,718. Graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,473 ten years after entry. Set against $13,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lake Area Technical Institute
Out of the 12 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, Southeast Technical Institute landed the #2 spot. Southeast Technical Institute is a public school based in Sioux Falls, SD. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Southeast Technical Institute Science & Tech students take on a median of $18,442 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Southeast Technical Institute report
You'll get strong value at Northern State University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Aberdeen, SD, Northern State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Northern State University Science & Tech students take on a median of $26,143 in debt. Median earnings reach $47,618 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern State University has an acceptance rate of 93%. Get the full Northern State University report
You'll get strong value at Mitchell Technical Institute, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,524. Typical Science & Tech student debt is $12,730. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,743. That is a strong return on a $12,730 median debt. See the full Mitchell Technical Institute profile
Out of the 12 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, Dakota State University landed the #5 spot. Located in Madison, SD, Dakota State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,654 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,756 for out-of-state students. The median Science & Tech program debt is $28,724. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,970 ten years after entry. Set against $28,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dakota State University admits about 88% of applicants. Read the full report on Dakota State University
South Dakota State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,070 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants. More on South Dakota State University
University Of South Dakota ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Based in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical Science & Tech student debt is $26,322. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,926 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants. See the full University Of South Dakota profile
Western Dakota Technical Institute landed the #8 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Located in Rapid City, SD, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,294. The median Science & Tech program debt is $15,620. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,240. That is a strong return on a $15,620 median debt. See the full Western Dakota Technical Institute profile
Black Hills State University landed the #9 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Set in Spearfish, SD, Black Hills State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Graduates carry a median of $26,820 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. Get the full Black Hills State University report
University Of Sioux Falls landed the #10 spot for value in South Dakota this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux Falls, SD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. The median Science & Tech program debt is $26,103. Median earnings reach $54,521 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Sioux Falls has an acceptance rate of 83%. Read the full report on University Of Sioux Falls
National American University Rapid City landed the #11 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Located 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. Students borrow a median of $38,264 to complete their Science & Tech program here. Median earnings reach $37,325 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $38,264 median debt. See the full National American University Rapid City profile
Augustana College South Dakota ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,160. Students borrow a median of $26,217 to complete their Science & Tech program here. Median earnings reach $59,217 ten years out. Set against $26,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Augustana College South Dakota admits about 68% of applicants. Read more about Augustana College South Dakota
Sisseton Wahpeton College placed #13 among the best-value Science & Tech schools in South Dakota. More on Sisseton Wahpeton College
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Read the full report on Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Black Hills Beauty College landed the #15 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read more about Black Hills Beauty College
Oglala Lakota College placed #16 among the best-value Science & Tech schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Oglala Lakota College
Stewart School
Stewart School placed #17 among the best-value Science & Tech schools in South Dakota. Get the full Stewart School report
Sioux Falls Seminary ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. More on Sioux Falls Seminary
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Get the full South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology report
Dakota Wesleyan University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Get the full Dakota Wesleyan University report
California Intercontinental University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full California Intercontinental University report
Hot Rod Institute ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Get the full Hot Rod Institute report
Mount Marty College placed #23 among the best-value Science & Tech schools in South Dakota. More on Mount Marty College
Sanford Medical Center ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science & Tech schools. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Sinte Gleska University landed the #25 spot for value in South Dakota this year. See the full Sinte Gleska University profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Science & Tech Degree Schools in South Dakota
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Headlines Academy Inc came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. More on Headlines Academy Inc
Institute Of Lutheran Theology placed #27 among the best-value Science & Tech schools in South Dakota. See the full Institute Of Lutheran Theology profile
More Science & Tech Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (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 · 12 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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