Rankings / By State (Affordable)
Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota
- 14
- Schools
- $51,666
- Avg. Earnings
- 58%
- Avg. Graduation
- $18,529
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,308
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 14 schools run from $40,240 to $72,257, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Mitchell Technical College delivers the most for the money: roughly $50,743 in median earnings against $13,460 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Western Dakota Technical College is the lowest-cost school here at $12,670 a year in net price.
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Augustana University graduates 74% of its students, versus a 58% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Mitchell Technical College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.24× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Western Dakota Technical College ($40,240 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($72,257), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Western Dakota Technical College costs $12,670 a year and Augustana University costs $23,894. Yet their graduates earn $40,240 and $59,217, nowhere near the $11,224 price gap.
- On value, Mitchell Technical College beats South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Mitchell Technical College and Augustana University. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $51K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Western Dakota Technical College #1 overall | $40,240 ▼ -22% vs avg | $12,670 | 54% | 69 |
| 2 Mitchell Technical College #2 overall | $50,743 ▼ -2% vs avg | $13,460 | 74% | 67 |
| 3 Northern State University #3 overall | $47,618 ▼ -8% vs avg | $15,812 | 51% | 65 |
| $46,674 ▼ -10% vs avg | $15,911 | 40% | 64 | |
| $45,473 ▼ -12% vs avg | $15,979 | 69% | 63 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota
This analysis ranks 14 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $51,666 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 58% and an average net price of $18,529.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Mitchell Technical College — Net Price: $13,460 | Graduation Rate: 74%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Augustana University — 74% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology — Median alumni earnings: $72,257
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Affordability & ROI Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about getting a real return on a degree?
$50,857
Median earnings (10yr)
56%
Median graduation rate
$19,788
Median net price
1.8%
Avg. mobility rate
A value ranking asks the question families actually care about: which school delivers the strongest outcome for the least cost and debt. The winners are rarely the cheapest schools or the highest earners. They are the ones that pair a low net price, what students pay after grants, with graduates who go on to earn. That is the definition of return on investment.
Across the 14 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $50,857 ten years after they first enrolled, about $2,857 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 56%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $19,788 a year, with about $23,375 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 23% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.8%.
What we’re seeing: value clusters at schools that hold net price down without sacrificing earnings. The median net price here is $19,788, with graduates earning a median of $50,857 ten years after enrollment. Strong results without heavy debt: that combination is the quiet argument for where higher education is headed.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Western Dakota Technical College lands at #1 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $40,240 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,670 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Mitchell Technical College lands at #2 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (70/100). Graduates earn a median $50,743 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,460 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Northern State University lands at #3 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $47,618 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,812 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Black Hills State University lands at #4 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (62/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $46,674 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,911 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Lake Area Technical College lands at #5 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $45,473 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,979 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Southeast Technical College lands at #6 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $46,709 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,400 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of South Dakota lands at #7 with a 59/100 composite, led by social mobility (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $51,926 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,858 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Dakota Wesleyan University lands at #8 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (63/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $53,728 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,735 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
South Dakota State University lands at #9 with a 57/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $55,070 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,841 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Rapid City, SD · 80% accepted · $20,183 net
Why it ranks #10
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology lands at #10 with a 56/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (72/100) and pulled down by social mobility (55/100). Graduates earn a median $72,257 a decade after enrolling, 40% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,183 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Dakota State University lands at #11 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $50,970 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,057 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Sioux Falls lands at #12 with a 54/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $54,521 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,383 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Mount Marty University lands at #13 with a 54/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $48,179 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,227 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Augustana University lands at #14 with a 49/100 composite, led by academic quality (72/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $59,217 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,894 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 14 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Finding an affordable college can feel overwhelming, especially when considering all the options available in South Dakota. The schools on this list share a commitment to keeping net prices low while preparing students for rewarding careers. With average earnings of $51,666, these institutions are worth examining closely.
What sets these schools apart is not just their low tuition, but also their outcomes. Factors like graduation rates, average debt, and post-graduate earnings reflect how well these colleges support their students. The schools listed below show a variety of paths students can take, revealing the potential trade-offs between cost and future earnings.
For instance, Western Dakota Technical College has a lower net price of $12,670, but a graduation rate of 54%. In contrast, Mitchell Technical College, while slightly more expensive at $13,460, boasts a much higher graduation rate of 74% and higher average earnings of $50,743. These differences highlight the need for careful consideration of what each institution can offer beyond just the cost.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 7 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.8%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Mitchell Technical College leads the group at 3.1%, with Western Dakota Technical College (1.7%) and Lake Area Technical College (1.7%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 10.1% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Western Dakota Technical College enrolls the most, at 14.9%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 16.6% across the list, peaking at 31.7% at Mitchell Technical College.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and University of Sioux Falls is highest at 1.76.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When comparing these colleges, the data reveals some intriguing trends. For example, while Black Hills State University has a net price of $15,911, its graduation rate is only 40%. In contrast, Lake Area Technical College has a competitive net price of $15,979 but a graduation rate of 69%. This suggests that a slightly higher investment might yield better completion outcomes, which can ultimately impact career prospects.
After scrolling through these options, it’s crucial to weigh the data against your personal priorities. Consider what matters most to you: Is it the lowest net price, the highest graduation rate, or the best earning potential after graduation? Make a table of your own priorities and align them with the listed schools to find the best fit.
The stakes are significant. Choosing the right college can lead to a stable life and a fulfilling career. For a family contemplating these options, the decision can affect not just finances but also future opportunities and stability. By carefully examining these schools and what they can offer, families can make informed choices that align with their goals and values.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota ranking? +
Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City, SD ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $40,240 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 54% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology posts the highest median earnings on this list: $72,257 ten years after enrollment, well above the $51,666 average across the 14 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Mitchell Technical College leads: graduates earn a median $50,743 against net price of about $13,460 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Augustana University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 74%, compared with a 58% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $18,529 a year across the 14 ranked schools with cost data. Western Dakota Technical College is among the most affordable at roughly $12,670. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 14 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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