2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in South Dakota? Our ranking highlights 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, Teaching Degree Search reviewed 6 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 Teaching Degree Schools in South Dakota
Explore the best-value schools below:
Northern State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in South Dakota. Northern State University is a public school based in Aberdeen, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete their Teaching program here. A decade after starting, 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%. Read more about Northern State University
Out of the 6 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, University Of South Dakota landed the #2 spot. Based in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. The median Teaching program debt is $26,322. Median earnings reach $51,926 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%. Read more about University Of South Dakota
A rank of #3 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values in South Dakota. Based 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. South Dakota State University Teaching students take on a median of $24,989 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted. Read more about South Dakota State University
Out of the 6 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, University Of Sioux Falls landed the #4 spot. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. Graduates carry a median of $26,103 in student loans. University Of Sioux Falls alumni report median earnings of $54,521 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,103 median debt. University Of Sioux Falls has an acceptance rate of 83%. Get the full University Of Sioux Falls report
You'll get strong value at Black Hills State University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Spearfish, SD, Black Hills State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,820. Median earnings reach $46,674 ten years out. Set against $26,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Black Hills State University has an acceptance rate of 96%. Read the full report on Black Hills State University
Augustana College South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,160 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $26,217. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,217. That is a strong return on a $26,217 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
Headlines Academy Inc ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Headlines Academy Inc
Dakota State University placed #8 among the best-value Teaching schools in South Dakota. Read more about Dakota State University
Institute Of Lutheran Theology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Institute Of Lutheran Theology profile
Sioux Falls Seminary landed the #10 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Sioux Falls Seminary
National American University Rapid City placed #11 among the best-value Teaching schools in South Dakota. See the full National American University Rapid City profile
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital placed #12 among the best-value Teaching schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Oglala Lakota College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Oglala Lakota College profile
Sanford Medical Center came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Hot Rod Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Hot Rod Institute report
Sinte Gleska University placed #17 among the best-value Teaching schools in South Dakota. See the full Sinte Gleska University profile
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Sisseton Wahpeton College profile
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Lake Area Technical Institute
Southeast Technical Institute ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Southeast Technical Institute profile
Western Dakota Technical Institute landed the #21 spot for value in South Dakota this year. More on Western Dakota Technical Institute
California Intercontinental University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full California Intercontinental University profile
Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #23 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Get the full Dakota Wesleyan University report
Black Hills Beauty College landed the #24 spot for value in South Dakota this year. More on Black Hills Beauty College
Stewart School
Stewart School ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Stewart School
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Mitchell Technical Institute placed #26 among the best-value Teaching schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Mitchell Technical Institute
Mount Marty College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Mount Marty College
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Teaching Degree Search (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 · 6 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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