Best colleges for Registered Nursing in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Augustana University, South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. Augustana University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,237, College Scorecard. South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota and Mount Marty University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Dakota: 353, 109 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 South Dakota colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 911 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, 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 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,237 | 73 | 73% | $23,011 | $27,000 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,758 | 353 | 62% | — | $28,000 |
| 3 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,758 | 109 | 60% | — | $28,644 |
| 4 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,622 | 39 | 63% | $19,439 | $31,000 |
| 5 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,981 | 33 | 48% | $17,608 | $31,000 |
| 6 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,183 | 104 | 52% | $22,972 | $27,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public · Associate degree | $66,233 | 51 | 73% | — | $26,212 |
| 2 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls Public · Associate degree | $62,601 | 82 | 59% | — | $28,239 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Dakota
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public | 353 | $71,758 |
| 2 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public | 109 | $71,758 |
| 3 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit | 104 | $66,183 |
| 4 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 73 | $72,237 |
| 5 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 39 | $70,622 |
| 6 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 7 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit | 33 | $67,981 |
| 8 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public | 24 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 South Dakota colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Technical College | Sioux Falls | Public | 82 |
| Lake Area Technical College | Watertown | Public | 51 |
| Oglala Lakota College | Kyle | Public | 8 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | Sisseton | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
South Dakota State University (353 graduates a year), University of South Dakota (109 graduates a year) and Mount Marty University (104 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 South Dakota colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in South Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, Augustana University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,237, College Scorecard. South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota follow. By degrees awarded, South Dakota State University is the largest, with 353 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Augustana University tops the list at $72,237. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in South Dakota is $77,140 (median $78,060), across about 14,710 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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