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Most affordable public universities in South Dakota

9 public universities in South Dakota report net price data, ranging from $3,284 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $16,873. South Dakota's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in South Dakota

$16,873

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in South Dakota

9

The most affordable public universities in South Dakota, ranked by net price

1

Sisseton Wahpeton College

SD

Net price

$3,284

Receive grant aid

100%

2

Oglala Lakota College

SD

Net price

$3,563

Receive grant aid

100%

3

Sinte Gleska University

SD

Net price

$7,439

Receive grant aid

75%

4

Net price

$16,474

Receive grant aid

74%

5

Northern State University

SD

Net price

$16,873

Receive grant aid

93%

6

South Dakota State University

SD

Net price

$18,233

Receive grant aid

94%

7

University of South Dakota

SD

Net price

$18,466

Receive grant aid

81%

8

Dakota State University

SD

Net price

$19,115

Receive grant aid

87%

9

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

SD

Net price

$20,243

Receive grant aid

83%

What makes a school affordable here

In South Dakota, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Sisseton Wahpeton College, the most affordable on this list, 100% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in South Dakota, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →