2026 Best Business Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best Business degree programs in South Dakota? This list ranks 27 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Business Degree Central analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Business Degree Schools in South Dakota
Explore the leading schools below:
Southeast Technical Institute earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in South Dakota. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Southeast Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. Southeast Technical Institute Business students take on a median of $18,442 in debt. Read more about Southeast Technical Institute
Augustana College South Dakota came in at #2 on this year's Business ranking in South Dakota. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College South Dakota posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,160. Augustana College South Dakota Business students take on a median of $26,217 in debt. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
You'll be in good company at Mitchell Technical Institute, which ranked #3 this year. Mitchell Technical Institute is a public school based in Mitchell, SD. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. The median Business program debt is $12,730. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
The strong Business programs at South Dakota State University earned it the #4 place in South Dakota. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. See the full South Dakota State University profile
You'll be in good company at Northern State University, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Aberdeen, SD. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete their Business program here. Get the full Northern State University report
University Of South Dakota landed the #6 spot in South Dakota this year. University Of South Dakota is a public school based in Vermillion, SD. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. The median Business program debt is $26,322. Get the full University Of South Dakota report
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. University Of Sioux Falls posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,750. The median Business program debt is $26,103. More on University Of Sioux Falls
Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot in South Dakota this year. Located in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,790. The median Business program debt is $31,000. Get the full Dakota Wesleyan University report
National American University Rapid City did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Rapid City, SD, National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,065 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $38,264 to complete their Business program here. Get the full National American University Rapid City report
Black Hills State University placed #10 among Business schools in South Dakota. Black Hills State University is a public school based in Spearfish, SD. About 43% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Graduates carry a median of $26,820 in student loans. Read more about Black Hills State University
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read more about Sisseton Wahpeton College
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Read more about South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
California Intercontinental University placed #13 among Business schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Stewart School
Stewart School did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Stewart School
Mount Marty College landed the #15 spot in South Dakota this year. See the full Mount Marty College profile
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #16 spot in South Dakota this year. Get the full Lake Area Technical Institute report
Sinte Gleska University placed #17 among Business schools in South Dakota. More on Sinte Gleska University
Oglala Lakota College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. More on Oglala Lakota College
Hot Rod Institute landed the #19 spot in South Dakota this year. More on Hot Rod Institute
Sanford Medical Center placed #20 among Business schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
Headlines Academy Inc did well this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Headlines Academy Inc profile
Institute Of Lutheran Theology came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Black Hills Beauty College placed #23 among Business schools in South Dakota. Get the full Black Hills Beauty College report
Western Dakota Technical Institute ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Business schools. Read more about Western Dakota Technical Institute
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Avera Sacred Heart Hospital profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best Business Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Sioux Falls Seminary landed the #26 spot in South Dakota this year. Get the full Sioux Falls Seminary report
Dakota State University landed the #27 spot in South Dakota this year. Get the full Dakota State University report
More Business Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 18 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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