Nursing Programs in Sioux Falls, SD

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Sioux Falls

Rankings serve as a vital tool for prospective nursing students, helping them compare program quality and outcomes. For our Best Nursing Schools in Sioux Falls, Registerednursing.org has analyzed state board data to rank programs based solely on NCLEX pass rates. This ensures an objective measure of student success. For more details, see our methodology: https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/

#1

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD - Private 4-year - usiouxfalls.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

The University of Sioux Falls' Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a campus-based, four-year program ranked No. 1 in South Dakota for BSNs. Its 2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 97.4%, a significant jump from 84.5% in 2022. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, high-fidelity simulation, and clinical experiences that start early and span hospital, long-term care, and community settings. Ethical decision-making from a Christian worldview is integrated throughout, preparing graduates to deliver compassionate, holistic care. Students develop skills in health technology, teamwork, and lifelong learning, leading to careers in acute care, pediatrics, and public health. Financial aid is available, and graduates report median annual earnings of $70,000.

• 97% licensure pass rate
• $70,000 median earnings
• Average Salary: $70,000
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Extensive clinical experience throughout program
• Use of simulation technology in training
• Christian values of love and compassion
• Strong job market with 43,777 postings
• RN careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care

Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Designed for individuals with a prior bachelor's degree or at least 60 college credits, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Sioux Falls can be completed in four semesters of full-time study. This cohort-based, spring-entry program covers pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, and gerontological nursing, with clinical rotations beginning the first semester. Students train in state-of-the-art simulation laboratories and work across diverse healthcare settings. The 2024 NCLEX-RN pass rate stands at 97.4%, underscoring strong preparation for licensure. No ACT or SAT entrance exam is required; instead, applicants need prerequisite coursework and three letters of recommendation. Graduates pursue RN roles in hospitals, clinics, and community health.

• 4-Semester program
• Complete in just four semesters
• Rolling admissions
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts spring
• 97% licensure pass rate
• Cohort-based structure
• 3 letters of recommendation (minimum)
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX

Show 1 More Programs ˅

#2

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD - Private 4-year - augie.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Augustana University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with a distinctive holistic focus, holding the endorsement of the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation—the only SD program to do so. The CCNE-accredited curriculum integrates interactive case studies, simulation, and weekly clinicals at Sanford and Avera health systems. Leadership practicums develop collaboration and delegation skills, while study-abroad options in Costa Rica, Norway, and Greece broaden perspectives. NCLEX pass rates reached 97.5% in 2022 and 93% in 2024, exceeding state and national benchmarks. Students can engage in Sigma Theta Tau and the Nursing Student Association. Financial aid, scholarships, and military-friendly support are available. The program description does not specify an ACT/SAT entrance exam requirement; applicants should verify admission policies with the university.

• CCNE accredited
• 95% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Holistic Nursing Program endorsement
• Weekly clinical experiences in Sioux Falls
• Advanced simulation center
• Leadership practicums
• Study away in Costa Rica, Norway, Greece

*Source documentation: IPEDS 2025 Technical Review Panel report, NCES.

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Sioux Falls, SD

Nursing is a rare vocation in that it changes all the time though its core – caring for and treating patients -- remains the same. Year-round enrollment options and open-door colleges and universities in Sioux Falls, SD has made entering this in-demand field a fairly simple process. From the Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing to bridge LPN to RN options, there are many “correct” ways to enter or advance your career in the field of nursing.

LPN to RN Programs

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) bring to the table extensive first-hand experience about patient interaction and the larger healthcare system. There are limits to the work that LPNs can do, and those who would like to have a greater impact on their patients often choose to become fully licensed registered nurses. Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, SD has a bridge pathway for working LPNs who want the opportunity to work as RNs. The pathway aims to make the most of previously earned credit hours so LPNs can reach their RN objectives in less time.

ADN Programs

Begin your career as a bedside nurse in two short years when you earn your Associate of Science in Nursing. The hands-on, clinical intensive format exposes you to a range of nursing experiences you are likely to encounter in the real world nursing environment. Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offers a budget-friendly ASN program. Most courses must be completed on-site; however, a handful are offered in an online format. The accredited program prepares students to sit for and pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Nurses are the backbone of the nation’s healthcare system. Bachelor-prepared nurses have been shown to provide improved care to patients; they are sought-out by hospitals and other employers. Augustana University, a traditional liberal arts school, offers a recognized BSN that generates NCLEX pass rates that are consistently higher than both state and national averages. The nursing curriculum of the Sioux Falls, SD school covers behavior and community health, pharmacotherapeutics, child and adult health, and maternal and reproductive health.

Find out more about South Dakota Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Sioux Falls, SD

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Sioux Falls, SD

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) can provide routine treatment and care to patients at all life stages from pediatric to geriatric. With many specialties available, these nursing professionals can choose to serve a specific patient population that aligns with their individual preferences. Online and hybrid online and on-campus Master of Science, Post-Grad Certificates and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees in and around Sioux Falls, SD allow career advancement at a pace that suits nurses’ working schedules.

MSN Programs

Nurses with advanced degrees have the benefit of focusing on a particular area of study that they are passionate about. By doing so, they can become leading nursing practitioners in their niche areas. Built-in the Benedictine Catholic tradition, Mount Marty College offers intensive Nurse Practitioner concentrations with psychiatric or mental health specialties. The blended online and on-campus format allows most students to work while they earn their Master of Science in Nursing. With a Sioux Falls, SD location, the college focuses on developing compassionate, clinically competent nurses.

Find out more about South Dakota Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

For Advanced Practice Nurses who can’t afford to take a break from work to advance their careers, post-master's certificates can be a low-cost way to get ahead without a long term commitment. South Dakota State University, located about an hour north of Sioux Falls, has in its arsenal four post-grad certs that can be completed either exclusively or partially online for maximum convenience. The educator, leadership, and nurse practitioner (family and psychiatric) certs allow students to meet their professional goals while balancing family responsibilities.

Find out more about South Dakota Post-Master's Certificate Programs.

DNP Programs

The Doctor of Nursing Practice represents the terminal degree for nursing and is available for those seeking to be true community and healthcare leaders. With a focus on frontier and rural healthcare disparities, the DNP program offered by South Dakota State University outside of Sioux Falls covers topics such as quality healthcare delivery for these and other disadvantaged populations. Students learn how to apply evidence-based practice and clinical judgment to assess, develop and deliver care for the underserved. The program, which includes both online and on-campus courses, requires a capstone project.

Find out more about South Dakota DNP Programs.