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2026 Best Trade Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in South Dakota? Our ranking highlights 27 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College reviewed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in South Dakota
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Lake Area Technical Institute this year in South Dakota. Based in Watertown, SD, Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,718. Typical Trade student debt is $13,674. Get the full Lake Area Technical Institute report
The strong Trade programs at Southeast Technical Institute earned it the #2 place in South Dakota. Southeast Technical Institute is a public school based in Sioux Falls, SD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,650. Typical Trade student debt is $18,442. Read the full report on Southeast Technical Institute
Out of the 18 schools in South Dakota in this year's ranking, University Of South Dakota landed the #3 spot. Based in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Typical Trade student debt is $26,322. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
Out of the 18 schools in South Dakota in this year's ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #4 spot. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical Trade student debt is $24,989. See the full South Dakota State University profile
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #5 on this year's Trade ranking in South Dakota. Mitchell Technical Institute is a public school based in Mitchell, SD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,524. Graduates carry a median of $12,730 in student loans. More on Mitchell Technical Institute
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #6 in this year's ranking. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Students borrow a median of $26,103 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full University Of Sioux Falls report
National American University Rapid City came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Rapid City, SD. Students from in state pay about $16,065 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $38,264. Read the full report on National American University Rapid City
Western Dakota Technical Institute placed #8 among Trade schools in South Dakota. Located in Rapid City, SD, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Students borrow a median of $15,620 to complete their Trade program here. More on Western Dakota Technical Institute
Sioux Falls Seminary landed the #9 spot in South Dakota this year. See the full Sioux Falls Seminary profile
Dakota State University landed the #10 spot in South Dakota this year. Get the full Dakota State University report
Sinte Gleska University landed the #11 spot in South Dakota this year. More on Sinte Gleska University
Dakota Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #12 position. See the full Dakota Wesleyan University profile
Augustana College South Dakota placed #13 among Trade schools in South Dakota. More on Augustana College South Dakota
Oglala Lakota College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read more about Oglala Lakota College
Sanford Medical Center ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Sanford Medical Center profile
Headlines Academy Inc landed the #16 spot in South Dakota this year. Read the full report on Headlines Academy Inc
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology did well this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology report
Sisseton Wahpeton College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
Black Hills Beauty College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Black Hills Beauty College
Black Hills State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Black Hills State University
California Intercontinental University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Institute Of Lutheran Theology placed #22 among Trade schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Mount Marty College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Mount Marty College profile
Hot Rod Institute placed #24 among Trade schools in South Dakota. More on Hot Rod Institute
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Rest of the Top 15% Best Trade Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Northern State University placed #26 among Trade schools in South Dakota. Get the full Northern State University report
Stewart School
Stewart School landed the #27 spot in South Dakota this year. See the full Stewart School profile
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 18 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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