Mitchell Technical College's nursing graduates posted a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, while a year at Augustana University carries a sticker price of $40,160 against about $7,500 at the technical college. Both routes end at the same license, so the real decision is which program gets you there fastest, cheapest, and with the best odds of passing.
The schools here include two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs, four-year BSN, and accelerated nursing programs for second-degree students in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings, Vermillion, and smaller towns.
Cost and prestige do not track each other: the highest pass rate belongs to a technical college, not a university.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: South Dakota Nursing Programs Ranked
South Dakota's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate reached 91.6% in 2025, comfortably ahead of the 86.7% national rate for U.S.-educated candidates, and the programs below are ordered by how often their graduates clear the licensing exam on the first attempt. Where a test-taking cohort is small, a single result can move a program's percentage by several points, so read each pass rate next to the number of people who sat for the exam. Each entry also notes accreditation, degree level, and what the school reports about completion.
How we ranked these
- Graduation rates, weighted most heavily
- Retention of enrolled students
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- CCNE or ACEN accreditation status
- Test-taker cohort size, as context
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- In-house program catalog data
Mitchell Technical College
#1Mitchell, SD · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.1% (2-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Working LPNs bridging to RN practice
Mitchell Technical College is the only school on this list whose associate-degree graduates posted a perfect first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, with all 23 first-time candidates passing. That is a small cohort, so a single failing result would drop the rate by more than four points in a later year. The nursing program is built as an LPN-to-RN bridge for licensed practical nurses, with clinicals one day a week around Mitchell, and it awards an Associate of Applied Science. Institution-wide, about 76% of the college's students graduate.
- Accredited by the South Dakota Board of Nursing
- Theory and general education coursework delivered online
- Clinicals one day per week in the Mitchell area
- Requires a current LPN license and 750 recent paid work hours
- 2.5 GPA minimum plus prerequisite courses
- Awards an Associate of Applied Science degree
- One-year and two-year completion plans available
- Simulation labs and virtual technology for clinical judgment
University of Sioux Falls
#2Sioux Falls, SD · $21,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.4% (2-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Career changers eyeing an accelerated BSN
The University of Sioux Falls runs two prelicensure paths in Sioux Falls, a traditional BSN and a four-semester accelerated BSN for second-degree students, both CCNE accredited. Its 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97.4% came from 39 first-time test takers, a modest group where one failing candidate shifts the number by more than two points. The accelerated track admits once a year in January and asks for three professional references. Institution-wide, about 63% of USF students graduate.
- CCNE accredited
- Clinical experience built in from the start of the program
- Simulation technology used throughout training
- Curriculum framed around Christian values and compassionate care
- Graduates work in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care
- Four-semester, cohort-based track
- Rolling admissions with one January start per year
- Open to second-degree and first-degree students
- Prerequisite coursework required
- Three professional references required
- Clinical experience from the first semester
- State-of-the-art simulation technology
Augustana University
#3Sioux Falls, SD · $20,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.7% (2-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Students drawn to holistic nursing philosophy
Augustana University's CCNE-accredited BSN in Sioux Falls is the only South Dakota nursing program endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, and students get weekly clinical placements with Sanford and Avera. The board lists a 95.77% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2025, though a separate board page shows 95.6% and no first-time test-taker count is published, so treat the exact figure as approximate. Study-away options include Costa Rica, Norway, and Greece. About 73% of Augustana students graduate overall.
- CCNE accredited
- Endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation
- Weekly clinical placements with Sanford and Avera in Sioux Falls
- Advanced simulation center on campus
- Leadership practicums in collaboration and delegation
- Study away options in Costa Rica, Norway, and Greece
- Sigma Theta Tau honor society chapter
South Dakota State University
#4Brookings, SD · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.1% (2-yr weighted avg)
South Dakota State University's CCNE-accredited BSN recorded a 93.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 across 297 first-time test takers, by far the largest cohort on this list, which makes the result unusually stable year to year. The degree is offered in Brookings plus Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and online. A $4 million HRSA-supported project with Avera Health places students in rural acute-care and long-term-care settings, and a new agreement lets Dakota State University biology and exercise-science students apply to SDSU's accelerated BSN in their final year. About 62% of SDSU students graduate overall.
- CCNE accredited BSN
- Study locations in Brookings, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and online
- Rural acute-care and long-term-care rotations through the Avera RETAIN-RNs project
- Articulation agreement lets DSU biology and exercise-science students apply in their final year
- Suggested Health Science minor
- Student Nurses Association, Nurses Christian Fellowship, and Nursing Student Ambassadors
- Graduates hired by Avera, Monument Health, Sanford Health, VA, and Mayo Clinic
Dakota Wesleyan University
#5Mitchell, SD · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.5% (2-yr weighted avg)
Dakota Wesleyan University offers two prelicensure routes, a CCNE-accredited BSN on its Mitchell campus and a hybrid associate degree in nursing based in Rapid City that the college lists with ACEN accreditation. The BSN posted a 93.9% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 with 33 first-time test takers, a small enough group that year-to-year swings are normal. Rapid City students train inside Monument Health's Turbine Building through the West River Health Science Center partnership, a regional pipeline that fed at least 87 new nurses into Monument Health in 2026. The university graduates about 48% of its students overall.
- CCNE accredited and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing
- Four high-tech simulation labs
- Clinical partnerships with hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies
- Rural clinical placements available
- Avera Achieve Sponsorship Program support
- Reports a 100% job placement rate
- Dedicated preceptor for clinical rotations
- ACEN accredited
- $28,800 total program tuition, or $400 per credit
- 24-month program totaling 72 credit hours
- Hosted at Monument Health's Turbine Building in Rapid City
- No healthcare experience required for admission
- Priority admission for applicants with a 3.0 GPA
- Clinical opportunities every semester
- UMC scholarship available
University of South Dakota
#6Vermillion, SD · ~$20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.2% (2-yr weighted avg)
The University of South Dakota's CCNE-accredited BSN is taught in Vermillion and Sioux Falls, and its 91% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 came from 100 first-time test takers, a mid-sized cohort. Admission requires the HESI entrance exam and prerequisite coursework, though applicants with an ACT of 27 or higher can qualify for direct admission. Clinical placements span urban and rural hospitals, including planned immersive rural rotations. About 60% of USD students graduate overall.
- CCNE accredited
- Taught in Vermillion and Sioux Falls
- HESI entrance exam required
- Direct admission with an ACT of 27 or higher
- $0 application fee
- Low student-to-faculty ratio with state-of-the-art simulation labs
- Clinical experiences each semester, including rural placements
- ROTC scholarships and service learning in Guatemala
Southeast Technical College
#7Sioux Falls, SD · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93% (2-yr weighted avg)
Southeast Technical College's associate degree in nursing is the largest ADN program here by pass-rate cohort, posting 91.5% in 2025 across 71 first-time test takers. The program holds ACEN accreditation and approval from the South Dakota Board of Nursing, and it offers part-time scheduling with start terms in fall, spring, and summer. LPNs with 750 hours of experience can enter a streamlined LPN-to-RN track, and transfer agreements help graduates move into a BSN later. About 59% of the college's students graduate overall.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing
- $282 per credit
- Part-time scheduling available
- Start terms in fall, spring, and summer
- LPN-to-RN track open to LPNs with 750 hours of experience
- Transfer agreements into BSN programs
- Build Dakota Scholarship eligible
- Student Nursing Organization for learning beyond the classroom
Lake Area Technical College
#8Watertown, SD · ~$16,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 91.6% (2-yr weighted avg)
Lake Area Technical College's associate degree in nursing in Watertown recorded an 85% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 across 40 first-time test takers, the lowest among the associate-degree programs on this list. The program carries ACEN accreditation, and the college graduates about 73% of its students overall. Published program detail is thinner for this entry than for others in the ranking, so confirm curriculum structure, clinical sites, and admission requirements directly with the college.
- ACEN accredited associate degree in nursing
- 85% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, based on 40 first-time test takers
Western Dakota Technical College
#9Rapid City, SD · ~$13,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 89.8% (2-yr weighted avg)
Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City builds its nursing degree as a 1+1 LPN-to-RN bridge, with clinical rotations that include evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts. The board reports a 91.2% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2025 but does not publish a first-time test-taker count for the year, so that figure rests on a modest pool of candidates. The college lists state board approval and ACEN accreditation, and it is part of the West River Health Science Center regional pipeline. About 54% of its students graduate overall, and 21 WDT graduates received Build Dakota Scholarships in 2026, which carry a commitment to work in South Dakota.
- LPN to RN 1+1 bridge track
- Build Dakota Scholarship covers tuition
- Entrance exam required: ACT or SAT
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- Clinical shifts include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- On-campus simulation center and nursing lab
- College lists ACEN accreditation alongside state board approval
Mount Marty University
#10Yankton, SD · ~$22,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 71.5% (2-yr weighted avg)
Mount Marty University's CCNE-accredited BSN in Yankton finished last on this list with a 67.9% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, and the 28 first-time test takers mean the percentage moves sharply with each individual result. The curriculum begins hands-on clinicals in the first year and covers pediatrics, maternity, medical-surgical, gerontology, mental health, critical care, and community health. Strong students can move directly into the university's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. About 52% of Mount Marty students graduate overall.
- CCNE accredited
- Hands-on clinicals beginning in the first year
- Rotations in pediatrics, maternity, med-surg, gerontology, mental health, and critical care
- Grounded in Catholic Benedictine values
- Direct entry path to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program
- Many students receive job offers before graduation
Two-Year ADN Routes: Technical Colleges and LPN-to-RN Bridges
An associate degree is the fastest legal path to an RN license in South Dakota, and the credential you earn at the end is identical to what a four-year graduate earns. ADN and BSN graduates take the same NCLEX-RN, pass under the same standard, and hold the same license from the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
Where to Find ADN and Bridge Programs
- Southeast Technical College (Sioux Falls): A roughly two-year Associate Degree in Nursing, plus an LPN-to-RN pathway for licensed practical nurses already working in the field.
- Lake Area Technical College (Watertown): An LPN-to-RN associate degree completed in about 11 months across three semesters, delivered on-campus and online. Applicants need a current LPN license and a minimum 2.75 GPA.
- Western Dakota Technical College (Rapid City): An Associate of Applied Science Registered Nursing bridge that awards 20 credits for current LPN licensure and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN.
- Mitchell Technical College (Mitchell): A hybrid LPN-to-RN bridge built around roughly one year of online theory with weekly clinical work.
Standard ADN tracks typically run 18 to 24 months; short LPN to RN programs generally run 12 to 18 months full-time for working LPNs. Admission is handled on rolling or cohort cycles that vary by campus, and not every 2026-2027 deadline has been published, so confirm start terms directly with the school.
Plan the Second Step Early
South Dakota's public universities accept associate-prepared RNs into RN to BSN bridge programs, so the two-step route is well worn here. The ADN costs less and gets you working sooner, but many hospital systems favor or require a BSN for charge, specialty, and leadership roles.
Lowest-Cost Nursing Schools in South Dakota by Net Price
Net price is the institution-wide average students pay after grants and scholarships, based on 2024 IPEDS and College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education, so treat it as a benchmark rather than a quote for your own aid package. Western Dakota Technical College and Mitchell Technical College charge the same tuition regardless of residency, which makes them strong values for Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska border students, while Northern State University charges out-of-state students about $3,100 more per year. Program-level nursing debt and estimated monthly repayment figures are not yet available for these programs, so the school-wide median debt below is the best quick ROI check for now.
| School | City | Nursing Credential | Avg. Net Price After Aid | In-State Tuition & Fees | Out-of-State Tuition & Fees | NCLEX-RN Pass Rate | School-Wide Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Dakota Technical College | Rapid City | ADN | $12,670 | $8,294 | $8,294 | 89.8% | $15,000 |
| Mitchell Technical College | Mitchell | ADN (LPN-to-RN) | $13,460 | $7,524 | $7,524 | 98.1% | $12,000 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen | BSN | $15,812 | $8,845 | $11,947 | Not reported | $22,320 |
Four-Year BSN vs RN-to-BSN Completion: Which Fits Your Starting Point?
A prelicensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN completion degree end with the same credential but start from opposite places. The prelicensure (traditional) BSN is for students who are not yet licensed: four years of coursework, clinicals, and then the NCLEX-RN. An RN-to-BSN completion program is for nurses who already hold a license, usually through an ADN, and need only the bachelor's-level coursework in leadership, community health, research, and policy that the associate degree did not cover; South Dakota-specific options are ranked in our Best Online RN to BSN Programs in South Dakota guide.
If you're starting from high school
A traditional four-year BSN is the cleaner route. South Dakota State University's BSN in Brookings and Sioux Falls, the University of South Dakota's program in Vermillion, and the campus-based BSN tracks at Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Mount Marty University all run on campus. That matters when your clinical hours and lab time are the point of the experience. USD offers direct admission to applicants with an ACT of 27 or higher; elsewhere you typically apply to the nursing major after a pre-nursing year or two, so prerequisite grades carry real weight , a theme covered in our How to Prepare for Nursing School guide.
If you're already licensed
ADN graduates have the advantage of earning while they finish. Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls notes transfer agreements to BSN programs, and Mitchell Technical College runs its LPN-to-RN coursework in a hybrid format with online theory and clinicals one day a week, a schedule shaped around people who work. Completion coursework delivered online lets you keep your hospital job, hold your income, and often tap employer tuition assistance while you move toward roles that list a BSN as the floor.
South Dakota by City
Explore other South Dakota related topics
Accelerated Nursing Programs in South Dakota for Career Changers
If you already hold a bachelor's degree, South Dakota offers accelerated BSN routes in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen. SDSU lists its accelerated cohorts at those three sites, and Brookings is not among them. Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls both run accelerated programs in Sioux Falls. As of October 2026, the University of Sioux Falls is still accepting applications for its Spring 2027 cohort until Dec. 1, 2026. Plan your finances before you apply: accelerated pacing combines full-time classes, labs, and clinical rotations, so most students find that holding a job during the program is not realistic.
| Program | Campus | Length | Start Term | Application Deadlines | Prior Degree Required | Prerequisites | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University Accelerated BSN (Sioux Falls) | Sioux Falls | As little as 12 months | Not specified in SDSU's application details | Application opens by early August; priority deadline Jan. 25; final deadline May 25; rolling review after Jan. 25 | Bachelor's degree | Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and chemistry, each with a C or higher | Campus site; hybrid delivery not specified |
| South Dakota State University Accelerated BSN (Aberdeen and Rapid City) | Aberdeen and Rapid City | As little as 12 months | Not specified in SDSU's application details | Application opens around Feb. 1; priority deadline April 1; final deadline Nov. 1; rolling review after April 1 | Bachelor's degree | Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and chemistry, each with a C or higher | Campus sites; hybrid delivery not specified |
| Augustana University Accelerated BSN | Sioux Falls (location of program delivery not specified) | Not published; confirm with the school | Fall | Feb. 15 of the year you plan to begin upper-division nursing courses, or until the program fills | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution | All program prerequisite courses completed; see the program page for the full list | Not specified |
| University of Sioux Falls Accelerated Nursing BSN | Sioux Falls | Not published; confirm with the school | Spring (next cohort: Spring 2027) | Priority deadline July 1, 2026; final deadline Dec. 1, 2026 | Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university | College-level prerequisite courses with a C- or better; full list on the program page | Campus-based |
Getting Into SDSU, USD, and Augustana Nursing: GPA Floors, Entrance Exams, and Cohort Caps
Getting into a South Dakota nursing program usually means clearing two sets of nursing school requirements: admission to the university, then acceptance into the nursing major. The first gate is wide. SDSU and USD admit roughly 98 to 99 percent of applicants overall, and Augustana about 68 percent. Nursing seats are a separate, more competitive step.
SDSU and USD
SDSU treats university admission and the nursing major as distinct steps, so students from outside apply twice. A 2.5 GPA is required to continue in the College of Nursing, with a C or higher in nursing-major courses. Published sources do not establish a TEAS or HESI requirement or cohort sizes for traditional BSN entry. International applicants need a TOEFL of 84 iBT (speaking 26) or an IELTS of 6.5 with 6.0 in each module.
USD offers direct admission with an ACT of 27 or higher and a 3.0 GPA in designated BSN prerequisites, all completed with a C or above. Other applicants take the nursing school entrance exam (HESI) before applying. No cutoff score is published, and neither are seat limits.
Augustana and Technical Colleges
Augustana's current GPA, exam, and cohort criteria could not be verified, so ask its nursing office directly. Technical colleges set their own rules. Mitchell Technical College lists a 2.5 minimum GPA, prerequisite courses, and 750 hours of paid LPN work for its LPN-to-RN route. Western Dakota Technical College describes selective admission with ACT or SAT scores.
One Way to Stand Out
Treat the science prerequisites as your application. Aim above the published floors, such as USD's 3.0 and ACT 27, because meeting a minimum only gets you considered.
South Dakota Nursing School Questions, Answered
These quick answers pull together the key findings on NCLEX results, admissions, cost, and licensing. Use them as a starting point, then confirm details with each school before you apply.
Which South Dakota nursing school has the strongest NCLEX record?
Is SDSU's nursing program hard to get into?
What's the least expensive way to become an RN in South Dakota?
Can I work in other states with a South Dakota RN license?
What Registered Nurses Earn in South Dakota
South Dakota RN pay trails the national figure, but it is fairly consistent across the state's two largest metro areas.