2026 Best Value Business Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Business degree programs in South Dakota? This list ranks 27 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Business Degree Central analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Business Degree Schools in South Dakota
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Southeast Technical Institute earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,709. That is a strong return on a $18,442 median debt. Read more about Southeast Technical Institute
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #2 on this year's best-value Business ranking in South Dakota. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,743 ten years after entry. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern State University earned it the #3 place in South Dakota. This public school is set in Aberdeen, SD. 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. Median earnings reach $47,618 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%. Get the full Northern State University report
You'll get strong value at South Dakota State University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $55,070 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. See the full South Dakota State University profile
You'll get strong value at University Of South Dakota, which ranked #5 this year. University Of South Dakota is a public school based in Vermillion, SD. 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. Median earnings reach $51,926 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. University Of South Dakota has an acceptance rate of 99%. Get the full University Of South Dakota report
Black Hills State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Black Hills State University is a public school based in Spearfish, SD. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants. Read more about Black Hills State University
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,750. The median Business program debt is $26,103. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,521. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Sioux Falls admits about 83% of applicants. More on University Of Sioux Falls
National American University Rapid City came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. 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. Median earnings reach $37,325 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $38,264 median debt. Get the full National American University Rapid City report
Dakota Wesleyan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Located in Mitchell, SD, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,790. The median Business program debt is $31,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,728. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 73% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Dakota Wesleyan University report
Augustana College South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,217. That is a strong return on a $26,217 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
California Intercontinental University landed the #11 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Sanford Medical Center ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Read the full report on Sanford Medical Center
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read more about South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Black Hills Beauty College came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Black Hills Beauty College report
Institute Of Lutheran Theology placed #15 among the best-value Business schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Avera Sacred Heart Hospital profile
Sisseton Wahpeton College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about Sisseton Wahpeton College
Headlines Academy Inc placed #18 among the best-value Business schools in South Dakota. See the full Headlines Academy Inc profile
Oglala Lakota College placed #19 among the best-value Business schools in South Dakota. More on Oglala Lakota College
Mount Marty College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Mount Marty College profile
Dakota State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Get the full Dakota State University report
Sinte Gleska University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on Sinte Gleska University
Stewart School
Stewart School landed the #23 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Stewart School
Western Dakota Technical Institute placed #24 among the best-value Business schools in South Dakota. Read more about Western Dakota Technical Institute
Sioux Falls Seminary ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Get the full Sioux Falls Seminary report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Business Degree Schools in South Dakota
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Get the full Lake Area Technical Institute report
Hot Rod Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Hot Rod Institute
More Business Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 10 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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