Education
Industry
Snapshot | Economy/Cost of
Living
Recreation
& Entertainment | Transportation
| Geography & Climate
History | Suggested Reading List
South Dakota provides many educational opportunities for all ages. School-age children have the
option to attend public, private, or home schools. The Mount Rushmore State offers higher education
institutions in the form of public universities, private colleges, tribal colleges, and community
colleges.
Excellent public universities serve the Mount Rushmore State. The University of South Dakota (USD) in Vermillion, founded in 1862, is the state’s
oldest university, Designated as the state’s only liberal arts university, USD offers the state’s
only law and medical schools, and the only college of fine arts. Over 8,700 students are enrolled at
USD. South Dakota State University (SDSU) in
Brookings, a land-grant institution founded in 1881 and the state’s largest university, enrolls over
10,000 students. SDSU offers strong emphases in agriculture and biological sciences, and offers over
200 majors and minors. Black Hills State University
in Spearfish, founded in 1883, is a four-year, public liberal arts university enrolling nearly 3,900
students and offering over 80 majors and minors, 23 pre-professional programs, and 3 master’s
degrees. Dakota State University in Madison enrolls
over 2,300 students and emphasizes the integration of technology in the learning experience. Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen enrolls approximately 3,000 students
and offers 38 majors, 42 minors, 6 associate, 8 pre-professional, and 9 graduate degree areas. The
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid
City boasts excellent programs in engineering, sciences, and computer technology, and offers over 36
degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels through 16 departments.
The Mount Rushmore State is home to several fine private higher education institutions. Augustana College, originally established in Chicago in 1860 and now residing in
Sioux Falls, is a selective, residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of America. Approximately 1,650 students can choose from over 50 majors and pre-professional
specializations for careers. Colorado Technical
University, with a campus in Sioux Falls, grants associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate
degrees, as well as professional certificates; other campuses reside in Denver and Pueblo, Colorado,
North Kansas City, Missouri, and online. Dakota Wesleyan
University in Mitchell, founded in 1885 by the United Methodist Church, enrolls over 700 students
and offers 26 majors, 29 minors, 4 pre-professional programs, and 4 associate degrees. Mount Marty College in Yankton is a private, Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts
college enrolling over 1,100 students. The National
American University in Rapid City, founded in 1941, is a comprehensive technical and professional
institution of higher learning with 11 other campuses in South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas,
Colorado, and New Mexico. Presentation
College in Aberdeen is a Catholic college based in the tradition of the Sisters of the Presentation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) and is a specialty health science baccalaureate institution;
additional campuses are located in Eagle Butte and in Fairmont, Minnesota. The University of Sioux Falls is a Christian liberal arts university enrolling over
1,600 students.
South Dakota’s Native American population is served by a number of tribal colleges. These include
the Lower Brule Community College in Lower Brule,
Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, Sinte Gleska University in Mission, and Sisseton
Wahpeton College in Sisseton.
Several additional community colleges and technical institutes reside in the Mount Rushmore State.
Kilian Community College is a post-secondary,
two-year institution serving adult learners in the greater Sioux Falls area. Other institutions
include the Lake Area Technical Institute in
Watertown, the Mitchell Technical Institute in
Mitchell, the Southeast Technical Institute
in Sioux Falls, and the Western Dakota
Technical Institute in Rapid City.
Related Resources:
Back to Destination South Dakota
|
