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2026 Best Value Trade Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Trade degree programs in South Dakota? Our ranking highlights 27 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Trade College reviewed 8 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in South Dakota
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Lake Area Technical Institute tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Trade degree schools 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,473 ten years after entry. Set against $13,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Lake Area Technical Institute report
You'll get strong value at Southeast Technical Institute, which ranked #2 this year. 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. Median earnings reach $46,709 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $18,442 median debt. Read the full report on Southeast Technical Institute
Out of the 8 schools in South Dakota in this year's value ranking, Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #3 spot. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,743. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Mitchell Technical Institute
A rank of #4 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values in South Dakota. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%. See the full South Dakota State University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Dakota earned it the #5 place in South Dakota. Based in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Typical Trade student debt is $26,322. Median earnings reach $51,926 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
Western Dakota Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,240. Set against $15,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Western Dakota Technical Institute
National American University Rapid City placed #7 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on National American University Rapid City
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Students borrow a median of $26,103 to complete their Trade program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,521. Set against $26,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Sioux Falls report
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology report
Sioux Falls Seminary ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Sioux Falls Seminary profile
Mount Marty College placed #11 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. See the full Mount Marty College profile
Headlines Academy Inc ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read the full report on Headlines Academy Inc
California Intercontinental University placed #13 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on California Intercontinental University
Dakota Wesleyan University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Dakota Wesleyan University profile
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital placed #15 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Northern State University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northern State University report
Black Hills Beauty College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about Black Hills Beauty College
Institute Of Lutheran Theology offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Oglala Lakota College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Oglala Lakota College
Augustana College South Dakota ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. More on Augustana College South Dakota
Sinte Gleska University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Sinte Gleska University
Stewart School
Stewart School placed #22 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. See the full Stewart School profile
Black Hills State University placed #23 among the best-value Trade schools in South Dakota. Read the full report on Black Hills State University
Sisseton Wahpeton College landed the #24 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
Dakota State University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Dakota State University report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in South Dakota
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Hot Rod Institute came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. More on Hot Rod Institute
Sanford Medical Center ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Sanford Medical Center profile
More Trade Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 8 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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