Nursing Schools in South Dakota:
ADN, BSN & RN-to-BSN Programs
— 2026 Guide
South Dakota offers accessible community-college ADN and LPN pathways alongside university BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD options. This page lists all 3 South Dakota nursing schools currently profiled in NurseOnShift’s directory (names, cities, and program mix come from each school’s published guide and structured data). Use the finder to filter by pathway, sector, or city; open any card for admissions, costs, and NCLEX discussion with sourced links to the South Dakota Board of Nursing where applicable. The Board also approves additional program sites statewide beyond this catalog.
South Dakota Nursing Education at a Glance
Key data points for prospective nursing students in South Dakota
📋 On This Page
👉 Quick picks by goal (not a ranking)
Use these entry points to organize your research. Each shortcut jumps to tools or lists on this page—you still need to compare NCLEX outcomes (by program and year) on the South Dakota Board of Nursing, net price with each school, and your commute or relocation plans.
👉 Best for affordability
Federal scorecard and community-college tuition are usually the lowest sticker cost path to RN licensure. Focus on public community colleges with ADN/LPN ladders, then validate aid and total program cost on each college site.
Sources: SD BON approved programs; each college’s tuition & fees page.
👉 Best for traditional BSN
Four-year universities confer the BSN for first-time nursing students and offer broader clinical and research networks. Compare programs in the BSN list below, then confirm admission tests, deadlines, and NCLEX trends for the specific track.
Sources: SD BON nursing education programs; school nursing websites.
👉 Best for online RN-to-BSN
Working RNs often need flexible completion programs. Filter this directory for RN-to-BSN, then verify on each school site whether the current option is fully online, hybrid, or campus-based—and whether employer tuition benefits apply.
See also our South Dakota RN-to-BSN hub. Sources: school catalogs; SD BON program approval.
⭐ Featured Nursing Schools in South Dakota (2026)
Editorial spotlight: programs that combine broad visibility with multiple degree levels or large community-college scale. This is not a ranked “#1 school” list and omits many excellent smaller programs.
How we chose these spotlights (not a ranking)
Featured examples from our 3 NurseOnShift South Dakota school guides—selected for catalog breadth (multiple degree levels or a large community-college ADN/LPN footprint), not as a ranked “best schools” list. Cross-check every program against South Dakota Board of Nursing approved-program and NCLEX publications before you apply.
Primary sources for verification: South Dakota Board of Nursing; SD BON nursing education programs; SD BON NCLEX pass-rate data (where published); individual school nursing pages linked from each NurseOnShift guide. Data last reviewed 2026-07-13.
South Dakota State University
Why spotlighted: Documented programs include LPN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD in this NurseOnShift guide; confirm current offerings and NCLEX data with the school and SD BON.
Verify with: SD BON.
University of South Dakota
Why spotlighted: Documented programs include LPN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP in this NurseOnShift guide; confirm current offerings and NCLEX data with the school and SD BON.
Verify with: SD BON.
Augustana University Department of Nursing
Why spotlighted: Documented programs include BSN, MSN in this NurseOnShift guide; confirm current offerings and NCLEX data with the school and SD BON.
Verify with: SD BON.
🔍 School Finder & Compare
Search by name or city, filter by program and school type, or compare two schools side by side.
Showing South Dakota nursing school guides in this directory
📊 South Dakota Nursing Schools at a Glance
All 3 South Dakota institutions in our catalog with published NurseOnShift guides. Program tags match each guide’s documented offerings (ADN includes ASN where schools use that label). For NCLEX percentages and cohort years, open the school guide and the South Dakota Board of Nursing reports—this hub does not duplicate board tables.
| School | Programs | NCLEX | Est. Tuition | Type | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University Department of Nursing | BSN, MSN | 95.52% first-time (2023, school table) (SD BON) | $$$$ | Private | Sioux Falls |
| South Dakota State University | LPN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD | 93.27% first-time NCLEX-RN (SDSU Nursing Student Services, 2025) (SD BON) | $$$ | Public | Brookings |
| University of South Dakota | LPN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP | 95% (SD BON) | $$$ | Public | Vermillion |
Tuition symbols are directional only ($ community/ADN-focused, $$$$ typical private BSN)—confirm net price on each school’s site. NCLEX: use the linked guide plus SD BON publications (e.g. annual reports and approved-program documents) for the same period you are comparing.
Browse Schools by Program Type
South Dakota’s nursing programs span four major pathways. Click any school to view its full profile including admission requirements, clinical sites, and accreditation details.
📋 ADN Programs — Associate Degree in Nursing
Community college route to RN licensure in ~2 years
ADN programs are South Dakota’s most affordable and fastest route to becoming a registered nurse. Offered primarily through the state’s community college system, these 2-year programs include classroom instruction, simulation labs, and clinical rotations at local hospitals and healthcare facilities. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Many ADN nurses subsequently pursue an RN-to-BSN bridge program to advance their careers.
🎓 BSN Programs — Bachelor of Science in Nursing
4-year university degrees with expanded clinical and leadership training
BSN programs provide a more comprehensive nursing education, blending clinical training with coursework in research, public health, leadership, and evidence-based practice. South Dakota’s major university nursing schools are ACEN or CCNE accredited. BSN-prepared nurses are increasingly preferred by hospital employers and are better positioned for specialty roles, management, and graduate education.
🔼 RN-to-BSN, MSN & DNP Bridge Programs
Advance your nursing career — often available online
For working RNs, South Dakota offers numerous pathways to advance from ADN to BSN, BSN to MSN, and MSN to DNP. Several universities offer fully online or hybrid formats, making it practical to work while studying. MSN tracks include nurse educator, nurse administrator, and APRN specializations. DNP programs prepare nurses for the highest level of clinical practice and health system leadership.
📍 South Dakota Nursing Schools by City & Region
Click a city to filter the school finder above, or browse schools near you.
🧭 How to Choose a Nursing School in South Dakota
Picking the right program depends on your goals, budget, location, and timeline. Here are the six most important factors to evaluate.
NCLEX Pass Rate
Look for programs with strong recent first-attempt outcomes and review multi-year trends in South Dakota Board of Nursing reports. Many applicants prioritize programs consistently above 90%.
Accreditation
Confirm ACEN or CCNE accreditation. This is required for graduate school admission and most employer tuition reimbursement programs.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Community college ADN programs cost $5k–$9k total vs $18k–$45k/yr for private BSN programs. Factor in scholarships, FAFSA, and South Dakota’s STARS scholarship.
Clinical Partnerships
Schools partnered with major South Dakota health systems and academic medical centers offer richer clinical experiences and often faster job placement.
Program Format
Working adults should explore evening/weekend or online-hybrid ADN and RN-to-BSN options. Several South Dakota programs offer flexible scheduling.
Career Goals
ADN is sufficient for bedside nursing. If you aim for management, CRNA, NP, or research, plan for a BSN → MSN → DNP/PhD pathway from the start.
💰 Cost of Nursing School in South Dakota
Tuition varies widely by program type and institution. South Dakota community colleges make the ADN one of the most affordable entry points in the Southeast.
Community College ADN
Total program cost at most South Dakota community colleges. Does not include books (~$1,500), uniforms, and clinical fees. PELL grants and STARS scholarships can eliminate most costs for qualifying students.
Public University BSN
In-state tuition at South Dakota public universities. Room and board not included. Total 4-year cost typically $40k–$88k.
Private University BSN/MSN
Private schools like Samford, Spring Hill, and Oakwood charge higher tuition but often offer significant institutional scholarships that can reduce net cost considerably.
Financial Aid Tips
- File FAFSA every year — nursing students often qualify for federal grants and subsidized loans
- State and federal grant programs may cover much of community-college tuition for qualifying residents
- Many South Dakota hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for employed nurses pursuing BSN/MSN
- The NHSC Scholarship Program offers funding in exchange for service in underserved areas
📈 NCLEX Pass Rates in South Dakota
NCLEX pass rates are the clearest indicator of a nursing program’s effectiveness. Here’s what you need to know about South Dakota’s standards and what to look for.
South Dakota Board of Nursing Standards
The South Dakota Board of Nursing publishes annual NCLEX performance data that can help applicants compare programs. Rather than relying on a single fixed benchmark, review recent board reports, look for multi-year trends, and compare school-level outcomes with the statewide picture for the same program type.
Pass rates are published annually by the SD BON and are the most objective quality metric available when comparing programs. Always request program-specific pass rate history — not just state averages — when evaluating schools.
How to benchmark NCLEX responsibly
Many applicants review first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rates by program and year. Treat any single figure as a snapshot: cohort sizes differ, and rates move over time. Prefer multi-year trends from the board over one headline percentage. Nationally, NCSBN publishes annual NCLEX performance summaries if you want a big-picture comparison.
- Use the South Dakota Board of Nursing site for official program-level disclosures tied to approved nursing education.
- Cross-check the specific program name, track (ADN vs BSN vs RN-to-BSN), and reporting year in the board document before comparing schools.
- When a NurseOnShift guide cites a rate, it should name the source and period; if it points you to the board instead, follow that link for the number.
📚 Data References
Official board reports, each linked NurseOnShift South Dakota guide (program lists, schema, and cited school URLs), and national accreditation and exam sources used for this hub.
- South Dakota Board of Nursing — 2024 Annual Report (used for statewide program counts and annual education totals).
- SD BON nursing education programs (used for school-by-school NCLEX first-attempt pass rates and program listings).
- South Dakota Board of Nursing official website (used for current board oversight, approval context, and program verification checks).
- ⭐ Featured spotlights section: Institutional bullets above cite SD BON reports and each school’s official nursing page for cross-checking program approval and catalog scope—not for implied ordinal ranking.
- Troy University School of Nursing (used to verify ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and RN Mobility offerings).
- Troy University ASN program page (used for associate-track verification).
- Troy University RN-to-BSN / RN Mobility page (used in the FAQ and pathway guidance).
- Tuskegee University Nursing (used to verify current BSN-focused offering and remove unsupported MSN labeling on this hub).
- Tuskegee University School of Nursing & Allied Health (used for current school-level overview).
- University of West South Dakota College of Nursing (used for current nursing pathways and to remove unsupported MSN labeling on this hub).
- University of West South Dakota ASN program page (used to verify associate-level offering).
- UWA College of Nursing expansion update (used to note that MSN approval was discussed, but not treated here as a fully current active MSN listing).
Each profile lists documented programs, admissions and cost discussion, NCLEX sourcing language, JSON-LD Course entities, and a Data sources / References section with institutional URLs. Program badges on this hub are derived from the same guide data.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — Exam statistics & publications (national NCLEX performance context; not a substitute for South Dakota SD BON school-specific pass rates).
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (accreditation verification for many associate and practical programs).
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (accreditation verification for many baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs).
- This South Dakota state hub on NurseOnShift (canonical URL for the 36-school directory layout, finder, and comparison table).
- NurseOnShift Editorial Policy and Medical Review Process (editorial and clinical review standards for nursing school content).
- UWA Online RN-to-BSN overview (example of online bridge-program positioning cited in page guidance).
- University of West South Dakota tuition and expenses (example workflow for verifying posted tuition).
Important: tuition, fees, accreditation, admissions standards, and program availability change regularly. Always verify current details directly with the school and the South Dakota Board of Nursing before publishing or enrolling.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about nursing schools in South Dakota.