The cost of college in South Dakota — and what it pays back
Across the 17 South Dakota institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $19,735/yr, $2,833 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $48,179 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 8 of the 17 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How South Dakota's 17 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $20,183 | $72,257 | 3.4 yrs |
| Augustana University | $23,894 | $59,217 | 8.8 yrs |
| Mitchell Technical College | $13,460 | $50,743 | 11.3 yrs |
| South Dakota State University | $19,841 | $55,070 | 11.8 yrs |
| University of Sioux Falls | $21,383 | $54,521 | 13.9 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oglala Lakota College | $1,895 | $22,517 | no payback |
| Western Dakota Technical College | $12,670 | $40,240 | no payback |
| Sinte Gleska University | $12,768 | $20,948 | no payback |
| Mitchell Technical College | $13,460 | $50,743 | 11.3 yrs |
| Northern State University | $15,812 | $47,618 | no payback |
How many South Dakota colleges actually pay for themselves?
8 of 17 — 47% of the South Dakota institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do South Dakota graduates out-earn the national median?
South Dakota graduates report a median $48,179 ten years after entry, $4,631 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.