Nursing schools in South Dakota

15 nursing schools, from practical nursing to doctorates: 15 with a federal record, with board approval, first-time NCLEX pass rates and accreditation.

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Nursing graduates by year

Nursing completions in South Dakota by year, all schools, IPEDS. Down 7% from 2014 to 2024.

Year	Completions
2014	1214
2015	1149
2016	1229
2017	1109
2018	1060
2019	1145
2020	1271
2021	1167
2022	1195
2023	1167
2024	1123

Map

Loading the map… NCLEX 90% and above 80 to 89% under 80% no board rate

Nursing schools (15)

Augustana University Sioux Falls · Private nonprofit Bachelor'sMaster'sCCNE RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 95.6% (2025, 68 first-time takers)
Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell · Private nonprofit Bachelor'sACENCCNE RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 93.9% (2025, 33 first-time takers)
Lake Area Technical College Watertown · Public LPN/LVNAssociate'sACEN Practical nursing NCLEX 97.7% (2025, 87 first-time takers) · RN, associate degree NCLEX 85% (2025, 40 first-time takers)
Mitchell Technical College Mitchell · Public LPN/LVNAssociate's Practical nursing NCLEX 100% (2025, 21 first-time takers) · RN, associate degree NCLEX 100% (2025, 23 first-time takers)
Mount Marty University Yankton · Private nonprofit Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctorateNurse anesthesiaCCNECOA RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 67.9% (2025, 28 first-time takers)
National American University-Rapid City Rapid City · Private for-profit
Northern State University Aberdeen · Public RN, bachelor’s degree
Oglala Lakota College Kyle · Public Associate'sCNEA
Sinte Gleska University Mission · Public LPN/LVN
Sisseton Wahpeton College Sisseton · Public Other nursing
South Dakota State University Brookings · Public Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctorateCCNE RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 93.3% (2025, 297 first-time takers)
Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls · Public LPN/LVNAssociate'sACEN Practical nursing NCLEX 98.1% (2025, 106 first-time takers) · RN, associate degree NCLEX 91.5% (2025, 71 first-time takers)
University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls · Private nonprofit Bachelor'sCCNE RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 97.4% (2025, 39 first-time takers)
University of South Dakota Vermillion · Public Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctorateCCNECOA RN, bachelor’s degree NCLEX 91% (2025, 100 first-time takers)
Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City · Public LPN/LVNAssociate'sACEN Practical nursing NCLEX 85.7% (2025, 56 first-time takers) · RN, associate degree NCLEX 91.2% (2025, 34 first-time takers)

Sources

Schools and awards: IPEDS Completions. Accreditation: CCNE and CNEA directories.

State board sources: SD Board of Nursing – Board Approved Nursing Programs (page updated 4/21/2026); South Dakota Board of Nursing Annual Nursing Education Report 2026 (approval status and main campus, pp.3-4) (approval status as of February 2026); South Dakota Board of Nursing Annual Nursing Education Report 2026 (2025 NCLEX-PN p.12, NCLEX-RN p.29) (2025 calendar year, first-time test writers).