Sioux Falls, South Dakota Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Sioux Falls, South Dakota shows: median public in-state tuition $14,700 (+166.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,869 (+4.7% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,624 (+31.2% vs U.S.) 5,887 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,887 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $14,700 (+166.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,869 (+4.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 94.9% (+7.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,392 (+94.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,624 (+31.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 67.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 80.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against South Dakota and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Sioux Falls vs South Dakota & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | $14,700 | $19,392 | $17,624 | 67.9% | 5,887 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,294 | $15,911 | $23,250 | 42.8% | 35,477 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Sioux Falls, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | $56,869 | 94.9% | 80.3% | 3.2% | — | 87.2% | 0.42 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $51,926 | 94.5% | 75.5% | 5.2% | — | 82.8% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in South Dakota (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | $14,700 | $19,392 | $17,624 | 67.9% | 5,887 | $56,869 | 94.9% |
| Rapid City | $10,500 | $19,694 | $15,000 | 26.5% | 3,734 | $54,791 | 87.8% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 73.0%, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 62.9%, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 95.4%, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 94.5%, Augustana University
Augustana University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 67.8%, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 82.9%, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,237, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,622, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $79,077, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $77,844, Augustana University
Augustana University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,826, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,712, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,484, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,245, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $59,217, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,521, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $149,970, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $146,918, Augustana University
Augustana University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $21,383, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
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Rank 2, Net Price, $23,894, Augustana University
Augustana University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 86.1%, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 74.5%, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
In-state tuition: Sioux Falls, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Sioux Falls, South Dakota median in-state tuition is $14,700, +166.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Sioux Falls, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is $17,624 (+31.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Sioux Falls, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Sioux Falls, South Dakota center around $56,869 (+4.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Sioux Falls, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 94.9% at the median Sioux Falls, South Dakota campus (+7.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Sioux Falls, South Dakota median public in-state tuition is $14,700, about +166.7% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +136.1%.
Median graduate debt is $17,624 (+31.2% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota are $56,869, about +4.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 94.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+7.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 87.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Sioux Falls (95.4%), Augustana University (94.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is 67.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Sioux Falls?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Sioux Falls?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Sioux Falls is $14,700 and median net price is $19,392. For South Dakota overall, medians are $8,294 and $15,911; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Sioux Falls?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Sioux Falls is $56,869 vs $51,926 for South Dakota and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Sioux Falls colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Sioux Falls is $17,624 vs $23,250 for South Dakota and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Sioux Falls?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Augustana University (graduation) and Augustana University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Sioux Falls?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Evangelical Lutheran Church (1), North American Baptist (1), American Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- South Dakota college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON