Mitchell, South Dakota Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Mitchell, South Dakota: median public in-state tuition $21,197 (+271.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,757 (-2.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 96.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,430 (+36.5% vs U.S.) 1,660 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Mitchell serve students across South Dakota with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,660 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $21,197. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Mitchell, South Dakota and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Mitchell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell, South Dakota | $21,197 | $16,894 | $18,430 | 54.4% | 1,660 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,526 | $15,279 | $21,008 | 45.0% | 35,477 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Mitchell, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell, South Dakota | $57,757 | 96.1% | 75.1% | 7.8% | — | 82.8% | 0.47 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $57,757 | 95.3% | 75.5% | 5.2% | — | 82.8% | 0.40 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell, South Dakota | $21,197 | $16,894 | $18,430 | 54.4% | 1,660 | $57,757 | 96.1% |
| Sioux Falls | $15,632 | $18,755 | $21,875 | 68.8% | 5,887 | $60,338 | 96.0% |
| Rapid City | $11,500 | $20,827 | $14,147 | 42.8% | 3,734 | $58,575 | 87.9% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Mitchell, 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, 54.4%, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, 96.1%, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Most selective college in Mitchell, 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, 73.4%, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $74,071, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $76,515, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $54,157, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $57,577, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $57,757, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, $162,830, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Most affordable college in Mitchell, 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, $24,039, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Top college in Mitchell, 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, 75.1%, Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
In-state tuition: Mitchell, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Mitchell, South Dakota median in-state tuition is $21,197, +271.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Mitchell, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Mitchell, South Dakota is $18,430 (+36.5% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,125.
Median earnings (10 years out): Mitchell, South Dakota vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Mitchell, South Dakota center around $57,757 (-2.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Mitchell, 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 96.1% at the median Mitchell, South Dakota campus (+3.0 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
Mitchell, South Dakota median public in-state tuition is $21,197, about +271.9% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +224.4%.
Median graduate debt is $18,430 (+36.5% above the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 Mitchell, South Dakota are $57,757, about -2.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 96.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+3.0 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 75.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 82.8% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Dakota Wesleyan University (96.1%)—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 Mitchell, South Dakota is 54.4% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Mitchell?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Mitchell, South Dakota with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Mitchell?
Median in-state tuition in Mitchell is $21,197 and median net price is $16,894. For South Dakota overall, medians are $8,526 and $15,279; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Mitchell?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Mitchell is $57,757 vs $57,757 for South Dakota and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Mitchell colleges?
Median completer debt in Mitchell is $18,430 vs $21,008 for South Dakota and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Mitchell?
Top campuses on this page include Dakota Wesleyan University (graduation) and Dakota Wesleyan University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Mitchell?
Among 2 campuses in Mitchell, South Dakota, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- South Dakota college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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