Cost of Attending College in South Dakota: Tuition and Living Costs
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 04, 2026 • US States & Cities
Part of the guide Cost of Attending College by State: Tuition and Living Costs Compared
In-state tuition and fees at South Dakota's six public universities run $9,200 to $11,100 a year for 2026-27, with SD Mines the most expensive. Add housing and food and a full in-state budget lands near $26,200 a year at SDSU; out-of-state students pay closer to $29,900. Private schools like Augustana University cost roughly $51,800 a year with room and board, while technical colleges stay under $8,000 a year in tuition.
💵 In-state tuition and fees: $9,226 to $11,087 a year at the six public universities
🏠 SDSU full in-state cost of attendance: about $26,192 a year
Out-of-state cost of attendance at SDSU: about $29,891 a year
Private university example (Augustana): about $51,778 a year
Technical colleges: roughly $7,500 to $8,000 a year in tuition
South Dakota Advantage and WUE can cut non-resident tuition significantly
Public university tuition and fees, 2026-27
The South Dakota Board of Regents sets one tuition rate per credit hour for resident undergraduates and a separate rate for non-residents, applied system-wide with small variation by campus. Combined with mandatory fees, the annual in-state cost for 30 credit hours ranges from about $9,200 at Black Hills State to just over $11,000 at South Dakota Mines, according to the SDBOR fee schedule .
| University | Resident tuition + fees (30 credits) | Non-resident tuition per credit hour |
|---|---|---|
| Black Hills State University | $9,226.50 | $376.40 |
| Dakota State University | $10,170.70 | $376.40 |
| Northern State University | $9,309.00 | $376.40 |
| South Dakota Mines | $11,086.70 | $449.85 |
| South Dakota State University | $9,780.00 | $396.30 |
| University of South Dakota | $9,916.50 | $396.30 |
Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines carry a laptop fee built into their totals ($870.70 and $916.70 respectively), which covers a required device issued to every student. Non-resident students pay $376.40 to $449.85 per credit hour depending on campus, which works out to roughly $11,300 to $13,500 a year in tuition alone before fees, based on 30 credit hours at the published rates.
Full cost of attendance example: SDSU
Tuition is only part of the bill. South Dakota State University's 2026-27 cost of attendance breaks down the full price of a year on campus, including housing, food, books, and personal costs.
| Cost category | In-state, on campus | Out-of-state, on campus |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $9,780 | $13,479 |
| Housing and food | $11,024 | $11,024 |
| Books and supplies | $810 | $810 |
| Travel | $1,990 | $1,990 |
| Personal expenses | $2,522 | $2,522 |
| Total | $26,192 | $29,891 |
Housing and food alone run about $11,024 a year on campus, roughly the same size as tuition itself. Books, travel, and personal spending add another $5,300 regardless of residency status. Other Regents campuses publish similar cost of attendance breakdowns on their financial aid pages, and totals move mostly with the tuition and fee line since housing and food costs stay close across campuses.
Private universities
South Dakota's private nonprofit colleges, including Augustana University, University of Sioux Falls, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Mount Marty University, charge more than the public system but often discount heavily through institutional aid. At Augustana University in Sioux Falls, 2025-26 sticker price runs $40,664 in tuition plus $1,104 in fees, with double-occupancy housing at $4,424 and a meal plan at $5,586, for a full cost near $51,778 a year before any scholarship or grant is applied. Ask each private campus for its published cost of attendance and typical discount rate before comparing sticker prices directly against public university costs.
Technical colleges
South Dakota's four technical colleges (Lake Area, Mitchell, Southeast, and Western Dakota) cost less than the university system and run one to two years instead of four. Reported in-state tuition lands around $7,500 to $8,000 a year at campuses like Mitchell Technical College and Western Dakota Technical College, per tuition data compiled from IPEDS , though specific programs with equipment-heavy training such as automotive technology or cosmetology can cost more. Many students in high-need fields qualify for the Build Dakota Scholarship, which covers full tuition, fees, books, and tools in exchange for a three-year work commitment in South Dakota.
Ways to cut the cost
South Dakota Advantage gives residents of 11 neighboring and nearby states the in-state tuition rate automatically, cutting thousands off the non-resident bill.
The Western Undergraduate Exchange caps non-resident tuition at 150% of the resident rate for students from 15 partner states.
Living off campus in a smaller city like Madison, Aberdeen, or Spearfish typically costs less than Sioux Falls or Rapid City, though exact rent varies by unit and season.
State scholarships like the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, Build Dakota, and Dakota Corps can offset tuition on top of any federal Pell Grant you qualify for.