Cost of college in South Dakota
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in South Dakota averages $8,957 a year, or $18,335 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $52,016 and owe about $23,899. The net price pays back in about 7.2 years.
How South Dakota compares to the US
South Dakota ranks #34 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #33 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #43 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | South Dakota | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $8,957 | $9,518 | -$561 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $12,192 | $23,652 | -$11,460 |
| Net price after aid | $18,335 | $13,788 | +$4,547 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $52,016 | $56,427 | -$4,411 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,899 | $17,856 | +$6,043 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in South Dakota pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in South Dakota costs about $73,340 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 7.2 years from the roughly $10,216-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #43 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in South Dakota list about $32,914 in tuition and net out to about $22,354 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in South Dakota?
At a public 4-year college in South Dakota, in-state tuition and fees average about $8,957 a year and out-of-state runs about $12,192. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $18,335. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in South Dakota earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from South Dakota's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $52,016 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $23,899 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in South Dakota?
A public 4-year degree in South Dakota costs about $73,340 over four years at net price and recoups in about 7.2 years from the roughly $10,216-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.