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List of colleges and universities in South Dakota facts for kids

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There are twenty-two colleges and universities in the U.S. state of South Dakota that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Brookings-based South Dakota State University (SDSU) is the state's largest public university, with a spring 2012 enrollment of 12,725 students. SDSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, a governing board that also controls the University of South Dakota (USD), which has the second largest enrollment. In addition, the Board controls four other public universities in the state.

USD is the oldest public university in South Dakota, as it has a founding date of 1862. Augustana University, situated in Sioux Falls, is the largest not-for-profit private university with a spring 2012 enrollment of 1,871 students in attendance. Sioux Falls Seminary, a Baptist seminary located in the city of the same name, is the state's smallest post-secondary institution, as it had a spring 2012 enrollment of 141 students. Globe University–Sioux Falls, a for-profit private university, consists of 262 students and is the state's second smallest institution.

The state's only law school, the University of South Dakota School of Law, is accredited by the American Bar Association. USD also contains the state's only medical school, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. The majority of South Dakota's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the National League for Nursing (NLNAC).

Extant institutions

Institution Location(s) Control Type Enrollment
(spring 2024)
Founded Accreditation
Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit Baccalaureate college 2,086 1860 HLC, CCNE, NASM, NCATE
Black Hills State University Spearfish Public Master's university 3,425 1883 HLC, NASM, NCATE
Dakota State University Madison Public Master's university 3,241 1881 HLC, CAEP, CoARC, ACPSP, CAHIIM
Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit Baccalaureate college 887 1885 HLC, NLNAC
John Witherspoon College Rapid City Private not-for-profit Baccalaureate college 2012 TRACS
Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown Public Associate's college 2,238 1965 HLC, ADA, AOTA, APTA, NLNAC
Mitchell Technical Institute Mitchell Public Associate's college 1,203 1968 HLC, JRCERT
Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit Baccalaureate college 1,252 1936 HLC, CCNE, AANA, NLNAC
National American University–Ellsworth AFB Extension Ellsworth Air Force Base Private for-profit Special-focus institution 1941 HLC
National American University–Rapid City Rapid City Private for-profit Master's university 1,151 1941 HLC, CCNE
National American University–Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private for-profit Baccalaureate/associate's college 1941 HLC
Northern State University Aberdeen Public Baccalaureate college 3,344 1901 HLC, NASM, NCATE
Oglala Lakota College Kyle Public Tribal college 1,177 1971 HLC
Sinte Gleska University Mission Private not-for-profit Tribal college 544 1970 HLC
Sioux Falls Seminary Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 1858 HLC, ATSCA
Sisseton Wahpeton College Agency Village Public Tribal college 187 1979 HLC
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City Public Special-focus institution 2,492 1885 HLC
South Dakota State University Brookings Public Research university 11,327 1881 HLC, ACPE, AND, CCNE, NASM, NCATE
Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls Public Associate's college 2,453 1968 HLC
University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit Baccalaureate college 1,594 1883 HLC, CCNE, NCATE
University of South Dakota Vermillion Public Research university 9,856 1862 HLC, ABA, ADA, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, LCME, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE, NLNAC
Western Dakota Technical Institute Rapid City Public Associate's college 1,267 1968 HLC

Defunct institutions

Institution Location(s) Control Founded Closed Ref(s)
Colorado Technical University - Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private for profit 1990 2016
Columbus College Chamberlain
Sioux Falls
Private 1909 1929
Freeman Junior College Freeman Private 1903 1986
Globe University–Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private for-profit 1877 2017
Huron University Huron Private 1897 2001
Kilian Community College Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit 1977 2016
Redfield College Redfield Private 1885 1932
University of South Dakota – Springfield Springfield Public 1881 1984
Wessington Springs College Wessington Springs Private 1887 1964
Yankton College Yankton Private 1871 1984
Presentation College Aberdeen Private not-for-profit 1951 2023

Key

Abbreviation Accrediting agency
AANA American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
ABA American Bar Association
ACICS Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
ACPE Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
ADA American Dental Association
AND Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
AOTA American Occupational Therapy Association
APA American Psychological Association
APTA American Physical Therapy Association
ASHA American Speech–Language–Hearing Association
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
JRCERT Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic Technology
LCME Liaison Committee on Medical Education
NASAD National Association of Schools of Art and Design
NASM National Association of Schools of Music
NAST National Association of Schools of Theatre
HLC Higher Learning Commission
NCATE National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
NLNAC National League for Nursing
TRACS Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools

See also

  • List of college athletic programs in South Dakota
  • Higher education in the United States
  • List of American institutions of higher education
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