Most Selective Colleges in South Dakota
Ranked by acceptance rate (10 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Marty University Yankton, SD · Private nonprofit | 43% | $22,227 | $48,179 |
| 2 | Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit | 68% | $23,894 | $59,217 |
| 3 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit | 73% | $19,735 | $53,728 |
| 4 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD · Public | 80% | $20,183 | $72,257 |
| 5 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit | 83% | $21,383 | $54,521 |
| 6 | Dakota State University Madison, SD · Public | 88% | $21,057 | $50,970 |
| 7 | Northern State University Aberdeen, SD · Public | 93% | $15,812 | $47,618 |
| 8 | Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD · Public | 96% | $15,911 | $46,674 |
| 9 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public | 98% | $19,841 | $55,070 |
| 10 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD · Public | 99% | $19,858 | $51,926 |