List of colleges and universities in South Dakota

There are twenty-one colleges and universities in the U.S. state of South Dakota that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Brookings-based South Dakota State University (SDSU) is the state's largest public university, with a fall 2024 enrollment of 12,056 students. SDSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, a governing board that also controls the University of South Dakota (USD), which has the second largest enrollment. In addition, the board controls four other public universities in the state. USD is the oldest public university in South Dakota, as it has a founding date of 1862. Augustana University, situated in Sioux Falls, is the largest not-for-profit private university with a fall 2024 enrollment of 2,390 students in attendance.

The state's only law school, the University of South Dakota School of Law, is accredited by the American Bar Association. USD also contains the state's only medical school, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. The majority of South Dakota's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the National League for Nursing (NLNAC).

Extant institutions Institution Location(s) Control Type Enrollment(Fall 2024) Founded AccreditationAugustana UniversitySioux FallsPrivate not-for-profit Master's university2,3901860HLCBlack Hills State UniversitySpearfishPublic Master's university3,3461883HLC, NASM, NCATECalifornia InterContinental UniversitySioux FallsPrivate for-profitSpecial-focus institution6231996DEAC, ACBSPDakota State UniversityMadisonPublic Master's university3,7741881HLC, CAEP, CoARC, ACPSP, CAHIIMDakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchellPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college8921885HLC, NLNACInstitute of Lutheran TheologyBrookingsPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1222009ABHE, ATSCAKairos UniversitySioux FallsPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1,2391858HLC, ATSCALake Area Technical CollegeWatertownPublic Associate's college2,3121965HLC, ADA, AOTA, APTA, NLNACMitchell Technical CollegeMitchellPublic Associate's college1,1861968HLC, JRCERTMount Marty UniversityYanktonPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,2841936HLC, CCNE, AANA, NLNACNational American UniversityRapid CityPrivate for-profitSpecial-focus institution9031941HLCNorthern State UniversityAberdeenPublicBaccalaureate college3,7081901HLC, NASM, NCATEOglala Lakota CollegeKylePublic Tribal college1,1881971HLCSinte Gleska UniversityMissionPublic Tribal college5921970HLCSisseton Wahpeton CollegeAgency VillagePublic Tribal college2061979HLCSouth Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid CityPublicSpecial-focus institution2,5761885HLCSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsPublic Research university12,0561881HLC, ACPE, AND, CCNE, NASM, NCATESoutheast Technical CollegeSioux FallsPublic Associate's college2,6591968HLCUniversity of Sioux FallsSioux FallsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4501883HLC, CCNE, NCATEUniversity of South DakotaVermillionPublic Research university10,6191862HLC, ABA, ADA, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, LCME, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE, NLNACWestern Dakota Technical CollegeRapid CityPublic Associate's college1,1641968HLC

Defunct institutions Institution Location(s) Control Founded Closed Ref(s) Colorado Technical University - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private for profit 1990 2016 Columbus College ChamberlainSioux Falls Private 1909 1929 Freeman Junior College FreemanPrivate 1903 1986 Globe University–Sioux FallsSioux FallsPrivate for-profit18772017 Huron University Huron Private 1897 2001 John Witherspoon College Rapid City Private 2012 2024 Kilian Community College Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit 1977 2016 National American University–Ellsworth AFB ExtensionEllsworth Air Force BasePrivate for-profit19412024 National American University–Rapid CityRapid CityPrivate for-profit19412024 National American University–Sioux FallsSioux FallsPrivate for-profit 19412024 Presentation CollegeAberdeenPrivate not-for-profit19512023 Redfield College RedfieldPrivate 1885 1932 University of South Dakota – Springfield SpringfieldPublic 1881 1984 Wessington Springs College Wessington SpringsPrivate 1887 1964 Yankton College Yankton Private 1871 1984

Key

Abbreviation Accrediting agencyAANAAmerican Association of Nurse AnesthetistsABAAmerican Bar AssociationACICSAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and SchoolsACPEAccreditation Council for Pharmacy EducationADAAmerican Dental AssociationANDAcademy of Nutrition and DieteticsAOTAAmerican Occupational Therapy AssociationAPAAmerican Psychological AssociationAPTAAmerican Physical Therapy AssociationASHAAmerican Speech–Language–Hearing AssociationCCNECommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationJRCERTJoint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic TechnologyLCMELiaison Committee on Medical EducationNASADNational Association of Schools of Art and DesignNASMNational Association of Schools of MusicNASTNational Association of Schools of TheatreHLCHigher Learning CommissionNCATENational Council for Accreditation of Teacher EducationNLNACNational League for NursingTRACSTransnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools

See also List of college athletic programs in South Dakota Higher education in the United States List of American institutions of higher education

Notes

References

External links Department of Education listing of accredited institutions in South Dakota