2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota

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First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Augustana University	85.5	67.75	1,090 – 1,290	25280	49826	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD At Augustana University, navy blue and gold are the official colors of the Vikings, who compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Education, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse are the most popular majors on campus, and the school has a 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio....Read more First Year Retention Rate 86 % 1.8% Acceptance Rate 67.8% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $25,280 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,826
2	South Dakota State University	84	98.34	1,020 – 1,220	18233	49564	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota South Dakota State University Brookings, SD South Dakota State University is the largest university in the state. Each year, the school receives around 7,300 applications. 94% of enrolled students get grant aid, $4,327 on average. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most commonly chosen major by far. First Year Retention Rate 84 % 1.2% Acceptance Rate 98.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $18,233 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,564
3	University of South Dakota	79.34	98.78	1,020 – 1,220	18466	46290	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Based in Vermillion, the University of South Dakota accepts 99% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $20 to apply. About 70% of students at the University of South Dakota currently receive grant aid from the school. 79% of students continued studying at the University of South Dakota after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 98.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $18,466 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,290
4	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	78.4	85.25	1,180 – 1,350	20243	62863	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD Located in Rapid City, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $20 for undergraduate applications and $35 for graduate applications. About 77% of students attending South Dakota School of Mines and Technology currently receive......Read more First Year Retention Rate 78 % Acceptance Rate 85.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $20,243 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,863
5	Northern State University	77	93.17	970 – 1,180	16873	41536	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Northern State University Aberdeen, SD Located in Aberdeen, Northern State University’s acceptance rate is 93% and requests $20 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 83% of students at Northern State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The first year retention rate is 77%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 77 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 93.2% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $16,873 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,536
6	Dakota State University	75.5	88.14	1,070 – 1,320	19115	46146	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Dakota State University Madison, SD Based in Madison, Dakota State University accepts 88% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $20 to apply. About 79% of students at Dakota State University currently receive institutional grant aid. At Dakota State University, there is a 75% first year retention rate and around 28% of undergraduates will earn a degree......Read more First Year Retention Rate 76 % 0.3% Acceptance Rate 88.1% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $19,115 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,146
7	University of Sioux Falls	74	82.98	970 – 1,140	21049	46712	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD Based in Sioux Falls, the University of Sioux Falls accepted 83% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at the University of Sioux Falls currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 83.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $21,049 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,712
8	Black Hills State University	72.24	95.31	970 – 1,180	16474	38927	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD Based in Spearfish, Black Hills State University’s acceptance rate is 95%. They request $20 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 58% of students at Black Hills State University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 95.3% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $16,474 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,927
9	Mount Marty University	68	42.57	970 – 1,210	23163	46984	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Mount Marty University Yankton, SD Mount Marty University is highly selective and has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. A NAIA Division II school, most of the 487 athletes compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. They're known as the Lancers and wear navy blue and gold. First Year Retention Rate 68 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 42.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $23,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,984
10	Dakota Wesleyan University	67	72.77	970 – 1,250	21901	49432	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD Dakota Wesleyan University dates back to 1885 and its campus today is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s fairly selective, and 840 out of 1,150 applicants received acceptance letters last year. DWU is a NAIA Division I school in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 72.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $21,901 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,432
11	Oglala Lakota College	63	92.79	--	3563	20536	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SD Found in Kyle, Oglala Lakota College accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $15 for graduate applications. About 79% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 63 % Acceptance Rate 92.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $3,563 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $20,536
12	National American University-Rapid City	52	48.14	--	22086	29641	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota National American University-Rapid City Rapid City, SD Found in Rapid City, National American University-Rapid City accepted 48% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 0% of students attending National American University-Rapid City will receive institutional grant aid. At National American......Read more First Year Retention Rate 52 % Acceptance Rate 48.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $22,086 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,641
13	California Intercontinental University	0	100	--	0	63721	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota California Intercontinental University Sioux Falls, SD First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
14	Sinte Gleska University	0	98.71	--	7439	15889	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 98.7% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $7,439 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $15,889
15	Sisseton Wahpeton College	0	82.08	--	3284	55193	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in South Dakota Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 82.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $3,284 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,193