State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in South Dakota

Oglala Lakota College has the lowest average net price in South Dakota ($1,895); the widest sticker-to-net gap is at Augustana University, not necessarily the cheapest campus.

$1,895
Cheapest net price
$18,146
South Dakota median
20
Schools ranked

Oglala Lakota College has the lowest average net price in South Dakota among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Oglala Lakota College posts the lowest average net price in South Dakota at $1,895 among 20 ranked schools, with the state median 6% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price
$1,895
South Dakota median
$18,146
Schools ranked
20
National median
$17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Oglala Lakota College has the lowest average net price in South Dakota at $1,895/year, and the state's median net price is 6% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$1,895
cheapest ranked net price
$18,146
South Dakota median net price
13 public / 7 private
schools in this ranking
$12,926
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $12,926 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Augustana University, where in-state published tuition of $40,160 falls to an average net price of $23,894 after aid, a $16,266 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked South Dakota schools.

Across 20 ranked South Dakota schools, 13 are public and 7 are private. Sector sits beside every row because a low price at a specialty campus is not the same signal as a low price at a large public college.

Every ranked South Dakota school is listed below. Here is how their average net prices spread:

South Dakota net-price distribution

Average net price after aid · 20 Scorecard-reporting schools

$23,894 more affordable than 0% of 20 South Dakota colleges

Show national distribution $0–$3,000: 2 South Dakota colleges (10%). Below this entry. $3,000–$6,000: 0 South Dakota colleges (0%). Below this entry. $6,000–$9,000: 0 South Dakota colleges (0%). Below this entry. $9,000–$12,000: 0 South Dakota colleges (0%). Below this entry. $12,000–$15,000: 4 South Dakota colleges (20%). Below this entry. $15,000–$18,000: 4 South Dakota colleges (20%). Below this entry. $18,000–$21,000: 6 South Dakota colleges (30%). Below this entry. $21,000–$24,000: 4 South Dakota colleges (20%). This entry sits in this band. State median band $0 $24,000 every ranked South Dakota college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $3K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Dakota colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

South Dakota's 20 cheapest colleges by real net price

1
Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SD · Public
Avg net price
$1,895
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,422
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$20,536
Enrollment
1,188
2
Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD · Public
Avg net price
$2,977
Net price (<$30K income)
$590
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$23,940
Enrollment
206
3
Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD · Public
Avg net price
$12,670
Net price (<$30K income)
$10,071
Median debt
$15,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$36,971
Enrollment
1,164
4
Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD · Public
Avg net price
$12,768
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,728
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$15,889
Enrollment
592
5
Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD · Public
Avg net price
$13,460
Net price (<$30K income)
$9,750
Median debt
$12,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$47,849
Enrollment
1,186
6
Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$14,221
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,333
Median debt
$6,864
Median earnings, 6yr
$28,339
Enrollment
133
7
Northern State University Aberdeen, SD · Public
Avg net price
$15,812
Net price (<$30K income)
$10,762
Median debt
$22,320
Median earnings, 6yr
$41,536
Enrollment
3,708
8
Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD · Public
Avg net price
$15,911
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,863
Median debt
$26,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$38,927
Enrollment
3,346
9
Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD · Public
Avg net price
$15,979
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,193
Median debt
$12,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$43,659
Enrollment
2,312
10
Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD · Public
Avg net price
$17,400
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,418
Median debt
$12,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$43,427
Enrollment
2,659
11
The Salon Professional Academy Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$18,146
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,704
Median debt
$8,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$25,321
Enrollment
80
12
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$19,694
Net price (<$30K income)
$17,122
Median debt
$7,917
Median earnings, 6yr
$22,585
Enrollment
66
13
Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$19,735
Net price (<$30K income)
$15,251
Median debt
$27,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$49,432
Enrollment
892
14
South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public
Avg net price
$19,841
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,266
Median debt
$23,250
Median earnings, 6yr
$49,564
Enrollment
12,056
15
University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD · Public
Avg net price
$19,858
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,921
Median debt
$23,592
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,290
Enrollment
10,619
17
Dakota State University Madison, SD · Public
Avg net price
$21,057
Net price (<$30K income)
$17,317
Median debt
$23,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,146
Enrollment
3,774
18
University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$21,383
Net price (<$30K income)
$18,145
Median debt
$23,249
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,712
Enrollment
1,450
19
Mount Marty University Yankton, SD · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$22,227
Net price (<$30K income)
$19,564
Median debt
$26,396
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,984
Enrollment
1,284
20
Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$23,894
Net price (<$30K income)
$18,746
Median debt
$25,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$49,826
Enrollment
2,390
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Oglala Lakota College Kyle, SD · Public $1,895 92% of the leader · rank #1 $1,422 - $20,536 1,188
2 Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton, SD · Public $2,977 88% of the leader · rank #2 $590 - $23,940 206
3 Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City, SD · Public $12,670 47% of the leader · rank #3 $10,071 $15,000 $36,971 1,164
4 Sinte Gleska University Mission, SD · Public $12,768 47% of the leader · rank #4 $11,728 - $15,889 592
5 Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD · Public $13,460 44% of the leader · rank #5 $9,750 $12,000 $47,849 1,186
6 Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD · Private for-profit $14,221 40% of the leader · rank #6 $11,333 $6,864 $28,339 133
7 Northern State University Aberdeen, SD · Public $15,812 34% of the leader · rank #7 $10,762 $22,320 $41,536 3,708
8 Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD · Public $15,911 33% of the leader · rank #8 $11,863 $26,000 $38,927 3,346
9 Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD · Public $15,979 33% of the leader · rank #9 $11,193 $12,000 $43,659 2,312
10 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD · Public $17,400 27% of the leader · rank #10 $14,418 $12,000 $43,427 2,659
11 The Salon Professional Academy Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit $18,146 24% of the leader · rank #11 $14,704 $8,500 $25,321 80
12 Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit $19,694 18% of the leader · rank #12 $17,122 $7,917 $22,585 66
13 Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit $19,735 17% of the leader · rank #13 $15,251 $27,000 $49,432 892
14 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public $19,841 17% of the leader · rank #14 $14,266 $23,250 $49,564 12,056
15 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD · Public $19,858 17% of the leader · rank #15 $14,921 $23,592 $46,290 10,619
16 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD · Public $20,183 16% of the leader · rank #16 $15,348 $27,000 $62,863 2,576
17 Dakota State University Madison, SD · Public $21,057 12% of the leader · rank #17 $17,317 $23,500 $46,146 3,774
18 University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit $21,383 11% of the leader · rank #18 $18,145 $23,249 $46,712 1,450
19 Mount Marty University Yankton, SD · Private nonprofit $22,227 7% of the leader · rank #19 $19,564 $26,396 $46,984 1,284
20 Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit $23,894 4% of the leader · rank #20 $18,746 $25,000 $49,826 2,390

Related

All 51 states → | South Dakota campus safety → | Find your school's rank → | Methodology →

What this means for you

Use South Dakota's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

  • Oglala Lakota College reports the lowest average net price in South Dakota, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Oglala Lakota College
  • See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
  • Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. South Dakota safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 20 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for South Dakota. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.