9th Annual South Dakota RN Program Rankings by RNCareers.org
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both South Dakota and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 4 ADN degree programs and 8 BSN degree programs in South Dakota. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in South Dakota to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.Â
Best ADN Programs in South Dakota
#1 Associate Degree in Nursing
Southeast Technical Institute
Pass Rate
2320 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, SD - 57107-1301
(605) 367-6175
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 91.29%
- Programs: Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Associate
University Information
Total Faculty: 98
In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $2,400
Book and Supplies: N/A
Percent Received Aid: 91%
Average Grant or Scholarship: $4,493
Percent Admitted: N/A
Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
Graduation Rate: 57%
If you are looking for an affordable nursing college where you can get one-on-one mentorship with the faculty and individualized mentorship then Southeast Technical Institute is the school for you. The college’s RN program proudly boasts 100% job placement among its 2020 graduates.
Nursing students at Southeast Technical Institute get to study and practice in the college's high-tech Sullivan Health Science Center. The Science Center is well equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that mimic real-life hospital setting to help students prepare for their clinical rotations as well as their career as Registered Nurses. They also practice in labs and clinicals at the campus or at different clinical sites throughout the community. The classroom hours, lab practice, and clinical rotations allow the students to be able to coordinate patient care, offer support to patients and families, treat patients and families with dignity and respect, educate patients, advocate for them, and also take on other multiple roles as healthcare providers.
Undergraduate Programs: Southeast Technical Institute offers an Associate Degree in Nursing that allows them to garner the skills and knowledge required to pass their NCLEX-RN examinations and work as RNs in a variety of settings.
There is also a one-year LPN (Diploma) course that allows the students to pass their NCLEX-LPN examinations and start a career as an LPN.
In addition to these, the LPN-to-RN track is a unique program that allows Southeast Tech LPN graduates with work experience or who are currently working as LPNs to easily transition into the college’s RN program.
Best BSN Programs in South Dakota
#1 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Augustana University
Pass Rate
- 2001 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, SD - 57197-0001
- (605) 274-5516
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 96.95%
- Programs: Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, Bachelor
University Information
- Total Faculty: 133
- In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,000
- Book and Supplies: N/A
- Percent Received Aid: 100%
- Average Grant or Scholarship: $22,071
- Percent Admitted: 71%
- Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 22%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
#2 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of South Dakota
Pass Rate
- 414 E Clark St, Vermillion, SD - 57069-2390
- (605) 658-6200
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 94.67%
- Programs: Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor
University Information
- Total Faculty: 438
- In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $9,432
- Book and Supplies: $1,200
- Percent Received Aid: 92%
- Average Grant or Scholarship: $5,495
- Percent Admitted: 91%
- Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 40%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
#3 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
South Dakota State University
Pass Rate
- 1004 Campanile Ave, Brookings, SD - 57007-1898
- (800) 952-3541
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 94.57%
- Programs: CNL, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, APRN Certificate, Bachelor, BSN to DNP, MSN, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate
University Information
- Total Faculty: 676
- In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $9,299
- Book and Supplies: $1,200
- Percent Received Aid: 95%
- Average Grant or Scholarship: $4,603
- Percent Admitted: 89%
- Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 44%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
#4 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Sioux Falls
Pass Rate
- 1101 W 22nd St, Sioux Falls, SD - 57105-1699
- (605) 331-5000
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 92.18%
- Programs: Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, Bachelor
University Information
- Total Faculty: 55
- In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,000
- Book and Supplies: N/A
- Percent Received Aid: 100%
- Average Grant or Scholarship: $9,131
- Percent Admitted: 92%
- Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 17%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
#5 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Dakota Wesleyan University
Arlene Gates Department of Nursing
Pass Rate
- 1200 W University Ave, Mitchell, SD - 57301-4398
- (605) 995-2600
- NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 85.96%
- Programs: Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingg, Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor, LPN to BSN
University Information
- Total Faculty: 44
- In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,200
- Book and Supplies: N/A
- Percent Received Aid: 100%
- Average Grant or Scholarship: $15,485
- Percent Admitted: 64%
- Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 23%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
About RN Programs in South Dakota
- There are 13 nursing schools in South Dakota. The CCNE accredits 8 nursing schools and the ACEN accredits 3 schools in South Dakota.
- Typically, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) will take between 18 to 24 months to complete, and a Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) will take about 4 years to complete.
- The average NCLEX passing rate range for ADN students in South Dakota is between 67.47% and 91.29%.
- The average NCLEX passing rate range for BSN students in South Dakota is between 64.10% and 96.95%.
- The average annual salary for registered nurses is between $52,080 to $111,220 a year.
- Registered Nurses (RN) throughout the country and in South Dakota can expect a favorable job growth of 15 percent from 2016 to 2026 which much faster than the average for all occupations.
Nursing is one of the most noble, if not the most noble; professions one can get involved in. Registered nurses are constantly seeking advanced degrees and almost half have already pursued higher education. These statistics are not surprising. There is a national push for registered nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher. This will help them to be prepared for the constantly evolving health care industry. There are many programs for nurses to choose and they are designed with a sense of flexibility to meet the scheduling needs of busy, working nurses. There are programs online as well as in the traditional campus setting.
South Dakota RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 5 | 9 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 81.72% | 84.10% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 67.47% to 91.29% | 64.10% to 96.95% |
Nursing Programs Offered in South Dakota
- Registered Nursing: 12
- Family Nurse Practitioner: 2
- CNL: 1
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: 1
- Nursing Administration: 1
- Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: 1
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: 1
- Practical Nursing: 1
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 1
South Dakota Nursing Schools with the Most Degree Types
- South Dakota State University: 6
- Dakota Wesleyan University: 3
- Southeast Technical Institute: 2
- Mount Marty College: 2
- National American University: 1
- Presentation College: 1
- University of Sioux Falls: 1
- University of South Dakota: 1
- National American University-Sioux Falls: 1
- Oglala Lakota College: 1
Become a Nurse Practitioner in South Dakota
Research the best South Dakota NP programs, and find comprehensive guides to the following NP careers:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Become an APRN in South Dakota
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.
Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.
RN Licensing Requirements in South Dakota
Comprehensive guide to South Dakota Nursing License Requirements Renewals RN and APRN.
South Dakota State Board of Nursing
4305 South Louise Ave., Suite 201
Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115
(605) 362-2760
More of the Best RN Programs in South Dakota
|
Grade
|
University
|
South Dakota Rank
|
Degree
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 74.77 | Mount Marty College | 6 | BSN |
| 69.59 | Presentation College | 7 | BSN |
Compare Nursing Salaries in South Dakota
How much do nurses earn in South Dakota?
- CNA Salary Report for 2024
- LPN Salary Report for 2024
- RN Salary Report for 2024
- NP Salary Report for 2024
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