Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in South Dakota
Key facts
- #1 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, SD: $72k
- #2 Augustana University, SD: $59k
- #3 South Dakota State University, SD: $55k
- 16 colleges ranked across South Dakota
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: $49k across the typical college in this list.
- 1South Dakota School of Mines and Technology SD$72k
- 2Augustana University SD$59k
- 3South Dakota State University SD$55k
- 4University of Sioux Falls SD$55k
- 5Dakota Wesleyan University SD$54k
- 6University of South Dakota SD$52k
- 7Dakota State University SD$51k
- 8Mitchell Technical College SD$51k
- 9Mount Marty University SD$48k
- 10Northern State University SD$48k
What stands out
- The top ten is tightly packed: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology leads on $72k, and #10 Northern State University is at $48k.
- Dakota Wesleyan University reaches #5 on a sample of 670 students enrolled, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- South Dakota State University is the largest market in the top ten, with 9,198 students enrolled behind its figure.
- Colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Median earnings ten years after enrolling show what former students of a college go on to earn, as the Department of Education publishes it.
How to use it
Compare colleges within the same level and field, and read earnings next to completion rate and net price. Earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as the college.
The top 25
- 1
- Completion rate
- 53%
- Net price a year
- $20,183
- Public
- 2,071 students
Based on 2,071 students enrolled.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 2
Augustana University SD
$59k
- Completion rate
- 73%
- Net price a year
- $23,894
- Private nonprofit
- 1,965 students
Based on 1,965 students enrolled.
- 3
South Dakota State University SD
$55k
- Completion rate
- 62%
- Net price a year
- $19,841
- Public
- 9,198 students
Based on 9,198 students enrolled.
South Dakota State University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 4
University of Sioux Falls SD
$55k
- Completion rate
- 63%
- Net price a year
- $21,383
- Private nonprofit
- 1,218 students
Based on 1,218 students enrolled.
University of Sioux Falls: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 5
Dakota Wesleyan University SD
$54k
- Completion rate
- 48%
- Net price a year
- $19,735
- Private nonprofit
- 670 students
Based on 670 students enrolled.
Dakota Wesleyan University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 6
University of South Dakota SD
$52k
- Completion rate
- 60%
- Net price a year
- $19,858
- Public
- 5,439 students
Based on 5,439 students enrolled.
University of South Dakota: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 7
Dakota State University SD
$51k
- Completion rate
- 51%
- Net price a year
- $21,057
- Public
- 2,071 students
Based on 2,071 students enrolled.
- 8
Mitchell Technical College SD
$51k
- Completion rate
- 76%
- Net price a year
- $13,460
- Public
- 990 students
Based on 990 students enrolled.
Mitchell Technical College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 9
Mount Marty University SD
$48k
- Completion rate
- 52%
- Net price a year
- $22,227
- Private nonprofit
- 697 students
Based on 697 students enrolled.
- 10
Northern State University SD
$48k
- Completion rate
- 49%
- Net price a year
- $15,812
- Public
- 1,273 students
Based on 1,273 students enrolled.
Northern State University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 11
Southeast Technical College SD
$47k
- Completion rate
- 59%
- Net price a year
- $17,400
- Public
- 2,310 students
Based on 2,310 students enrolled.
Southeast Technical College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 12
Black Hills State University SD
$47k
- Completion rate
- 43%
- Net price a year
- $15,911
- Public
- 1,928 students
Based on 1,928 students enrolled.
Black Hills State University: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 13
Lake Area Technical College SD
$45k
- Completion rate
- 73%
- Net price a year
- $15,979
- Public
- 1,812 students
Based on 1,812 students enrolled.
Lake Area Technical College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 14
Western Dakota Technical College SD
$40k
- Completion rate
- 54%
- Net price a year
- $12,670
- Public
- 753 students
Based on 753 students enrolled.
Western Dakota Technical College: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 15
- Completion rate
- Not available
- Net price a year
- $31,062
- Private for-profit
- 764 students
Based on 764 students enrolled.
National American University-Rapid City: programs, pay and open jobs nearby
- 16
Oglala Lakota College SD
$23k
- Completion rate
- 9%
- Net price a year
- $1,895
- Public
- 1,097 students
Based on 1,097 students enrolled.
Full ranking
All 16 colleges that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | College | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology SD | $72k | 2,071 |
| 2 | Augustana University SD | $59k | 1,965 |
| 3 | South Dakota State University SD | $55k | 9,198 |
| 4 | University of Sioux Falls SD | $55k | 1,218 |
| 5 | Dakota Wesleyan University SD | $54k | 670 |
| 6 | University of South Dakota SD | $52k | 5,439 |
| 7 | Dakota State University SD | $51k | 2,071 |
| 8 | Mitchell Technical College SD | $51k | 990 |
| 9 | Mount Marty University SD | $48k | 697 |
| 10 | Northern State University SD | $48k | 1,273 |
| 11 | Southeast Technical College SD | $47k | 2,310 |
| 12 | Black Hills State University SD | $47k | 1,928 |
| 13 | Lake Area Technical College SD | $45k | 1,812 |
| 14 | Western Dakota Technical College SD | $40k | 753 |
| 15 | National American University-Rapid City SD | $37k | 764 |
| 16 | Oglala Lakota College SD | $23k | 1,097 |
How this ranking works
Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones.
Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.
Sample bar: colleges with fewer than 500 students enrolled are not ranked.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (median earnings, completion, net price), as held in our college tables. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which certification ranks first: colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in south dakota?
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology leads South Dakota among colleges for earnings: its former students earn a median of $72k ten years after enrolling, against $49k for the typical college in this list.
- How many colleges are ranked?
- 16 colleges have at least 500 students enrolled, so the list has 16 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- Earnings are the median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, ten years after they first enrolled, as published in the Department of Education College Scorecard. They describe past students, not a promise for future ones. Only colleges with at least 500 students and published earnings are ranked. A college's earnings reflect who enrolls and what they study as much as what the college teaches.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Four-year colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Community and two-year colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Northeast
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in New England
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Mid-Atlantic
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in South Dakota,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-south-dakota
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/colleges-with-the-highest-earnings-in-south-dakota">Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in South Dakota (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
The job market, once a week
One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.
Applying and hearing nothing back?
Find out where you stand: your odds, the jobs that fit you and a plan for the week ahead. Free. No résumé needed.
Already a member? Log in
Run a workforce board, job center or economic development office, or hire in the places and industries on this list?
Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers.