2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT in South Dakota

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The median SAT ranking is a measure of the overall academic performance of students on campus. It's important to note that students often feel most comfortable on campuses where their own academic performance is close to the average performance of other students. Students who fall either far above or below the median can sometimes feel out of place amongst their peers.

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Rank	Institution	Est. Median SAT	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	1264	85.25	1,180 – 1,350	20243	62863	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,264 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
2	Dakota State University	1192	88.14	1,070 – 1,320	19115	46146	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,192 3.7% 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
3	Augustana University	1189	67.75	1,090 – 1,290	25280	49826	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,189 0.4% 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
4	South Dakota State University	1120	98.34	1,020 – 1,220	18233	49564	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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. Est. Median SAT 1,120 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
5	University of South Dakota	1120	98.78	1,020 – 1,220	18466	46290	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,120 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
6	Dakota Wesleyan University	1108	72.77	970 – 1,250	21901	49432	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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. Est. Median SAT 1,108 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
7	Mount Marty University	1090	42.57	970 – 1,210	23163	46984	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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. Est. Median SAT 1,090 0.5% 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
8	Black Hills State University	1075	95.31	970 – 1,180	16474	38927	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,075 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	Northern State University	1075	93.17	970 – 1,180	16873	41536	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,075 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
10	University of Sioux Falls	1055	82.98	970 – 1,140	21049	46712	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT 1,055 1.0% 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
11	California Intercontinental University	0	100	--	0	63721	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT in South Dakota California Intercontinental University Sioux Falls, SD Est. Median SAT -- Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
12	National American University-Rapid City	0	48.14	--	22086	29641	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT -- 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	Oglala Lakota College	0	92.79	--	3563	20536	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT 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 Est. Median SAT -- Acceptance Rate 92.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $3,563 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $20,536
14	Sinte Gleska University	0	98.71	--	7439	15889	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Est. Median SAT in South Dakota Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD Est. Median SAT -- 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 Est. Median SAT in South Dakota Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD Est. Median SAT -- Acceptance Rate 82.1% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $3,284 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,193