Sioux Falls, South Dakota Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota: median public in-state tuition $14,700 (+166.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,869 (+4.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,624 (+32.8% vs U.S.) 5,887 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Sioux Falls serve students across South Dakota with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 7 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,887 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $14,700. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Sioux Falls, 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 | 43.0% | 35,477 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
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 | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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% |
| Mitchell | $20,657 | $16,598 | $19,500 | 48.3% | 1,660 | $53,728 | 95.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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, $151,062, Augustana University
Augustana University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $147,424, University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Top 2 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 2 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 (+32.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
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 (+4.6% 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 (+32.8% above the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 +4.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
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 88.0% (+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 76.4%—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%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Sioux Falls?
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?
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 $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Sioux Falls?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Sioux Falls is $56,869 vs $51,926 for South Dakota and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Sioux Falls colleges?
Median completer debt in Sioux Falls is $17,624 vs $23,250 for South Dakota and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Sioux Falls?
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?
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
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