South Dakota · Registered Nursing

Best Registered Nursing institutions in South Dakota, ranked by earnings

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…

Institutions
12
offering CIP 51.38
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
847
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$67,981
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,972
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
54%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Registered Nurses
$72,210
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Augustana University
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$72,2374673%$23,011$27,000
2South Dakota State University
Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree
$71,75836162%$28,000
3University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree
$71,75813360%$28,644
4University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,6223863%$19,439$31,000
5Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$67,9814248%$17,608$31,000
6Lake Area Technical College
Watertown Public · Associate degree
$66,2334773%$26,212
7Mount Marty University
Yankton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$66,1836852%$22,972$27,000
8Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls Public · Associate degree
$62,6013959%$28,239

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~189,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$93,600
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringWriting

What Registered Nurses earn in South Dakota

Jobs in South Dakota
14,500
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$72,210
median $69,510
Best-paying metro
$73,640
Rapid City, SD

Related careers

Registered Nurses
$72,210 avg · 14,500 jobs
Medical and Health Services Managers
$128,110 avg · 1,140 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$122,300 avg · 950 jobs
Nurse Anesthetists
$229,840 avg · 370 jobs
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
$69,190 avg · 240 jobs
Nurse Midwives

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in South Dakota.

Which Registered Nursing program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Augustana University tops the list at $72,237. Compare it against completions, 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 $72,210 (median $69,510), across about 14,500 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

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