Colleges in South Dakota whose graduates clear the bar most often
Ranked by the share of each school's programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test).
| # | College | Programs clearing the bar | Median earnings | Programs measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 100% | $85,350 | 13 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University | 100% | $58,687 | 54 |
| 3 | Dakota State University | 100% | $56,991 | 11 |
| 4 | University of Sioux Falls | 100% | $53,447 | 15 |
| 5 | Mitchell Technical College | 100% | $50,193 | 18 |
| 6 | Northern State University | 100% | $49,669 | 11 |
| 7 | University of South Dakota | 96% | $61,518 | 45 |
| 8 | Southeast Technical College | 96% | $53,777 | 25 |
| 9 | Black Hills State University | 95% | $50,698 | 20 |
| 10 | Augustana University | 90% | $61,495 | 10 |
| 11 | Lake Area Technical College | 90% | $50,014 | 20 |
| 12 | National American University-Rapid City | 88% | $52,509 | 24 |
| 13 | Western Dakota Technical College | 80% | $51,988 | 15 |
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Ranked on one stated metric, the share of a school's programs that clear the benchmark. Schools need at least 10 programs with reported earnings to appear. Note that specialised graduate institutions (medical and health-science centres, for example) often rank at the top because their programs are almost all high-earning; the 'programs measured' column and each school's page give the context.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, and describe past graduates rather than a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.