Best colleges for Practical Nursing in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Western Dakota Technical College, Lake Area Technical College and Southeast Technical College are the top Practical Nursing programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. Western Dakota Technical College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,884, College Scorecard. Southeast Technical College, Western Dakota Technical College and Lake Area Technical College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 127, 55 and 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 South Dakota colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 255 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 4 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public · Certificate | $43,884 | 55 | 54% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public · Certificate | $42,160 | 51 | 73% | — | $17,600 |
| 3 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls Public · Certificate | $38,446 | 127 | 59% | — | $17,038 |
| 4 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public · Certificate Small program | $38,287 | 16 | 76% | — | $16,856 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in South Dakota
Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls Public | 127 | $38,446 |
| 2 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public | 55 | $43,884 |
| 3 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public | 51 | $42,160 |
| 4 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public | 16 | $38,287 |
ShowHide the other 1 South Dakota colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinte Gleska University | Mission | Public | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Southeast Technical College (127 graduates a year), Western Dakota Technical College (55 graduates a year) and Lake Area Technical College (51 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 South Dakota colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in South Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, Western Dakota Technical College leads among Practical Nursing programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,884, College Scorecard. Lake Area Technical College and Southeast Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, Southeast Technical College is the largest, with 127 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Western Dakota Technical College tops the list at $43,884. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in South Dakota is $39,510 (median $38,800), across about 6,860 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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