Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota

When you choose the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Sioux Falls, you join a top-ranked nursing school that boasts the highest NCLEX pass rate among four-year BSN programs in South Dakota. The curriculum blends evidence-based practice with hands-on clinical experiences from the start, using simulation technology to prepare you for real-world patient care. You'll learn to apply ethical decision-making guided by Christian values, promoting health across the lifespan in diverse settings. Graduates are ready for roles as registered nurses in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, with opportunities to specialize in areas like pediatrics or critical care. The program emphasizes communication, technology integration, and lifelong learning to respond to complex healthcare systems.

• 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

The University of Sioux Falls offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for students with a prior bachelor's degree or 60 college credits. This intensive, four-semester program combines rigorous coursework in pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, and gerontological nursing with hands-on clinical experience starting in the first semester. Students train in state-of-the-art simulation labs and complete clinical rotations across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are prepared for NCLEX-RN licensure and careers as registered nurses in hospitals, clinics, and community health. With a 97.37% NCLEX pass rate and ranked #1 in the state, USF’s cohort-based program delivers a supportive, accelerated path to nursing leadership.

• 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

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of South Dakota prepares you to meet complex healthcare demands with compassion and skill. Offered on the Vermillion and Sioux Falls campuses, this program combines rigorous coursework with extensive hands-on clinical experiences in both urban and rural hospitals. You'll train in state-of-the-art simulation labs, learning to collaborate with students from other health disciplines. The curriculum covers holistic patient care, critical thinking, and leadership, culminating in readiness for the NCLEX exam. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, you receive personalized mentorship from expert faculty. Graduates pursue careers in hospitals, community health, and specialized nursing fields. Unique opportunities include undergraduate research, service learning in Guatemala, and ROTC scholarships. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: HESI
• Prerequisite courses required
• $0 application fee
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Low student-to-faculty ratio
• State-of-the-art simulation labs

Dakota Wesleyan University's A.S. in Nursing program in Rapid City prepares students for a rewarding career as a registered nurse. The 24-month hybrid curriculum combines online coursework, in-person classes, and simulation-based learning at Monument Health. You'll study anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, mental health, and lifespan nursing, with clinical experiences built into nearly every semester. Graduates are equipped to work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, schools, and community health settings. The program is approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing and is a candidate for ACEN accreditation. With a focus on evidence-based care and professional development, students develop critical thinking, leadership, and compassionate patient care skills. Financial aid and scholarships, including the United Methodist Recognition Award, are available to help make your nursing education affordable.

• South Dakota Board of Nursing, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• $28,800 total program tuition
• $400 per credit
• 24-Month program
• 72 total credit hours
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• No healthcare experience required
• Hybrid learning format

Dakota Wesleyan University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares graduates for meaningful careers in professional nursing. The curriculum covers fundamental nursing concepts, pharmacology, health assessment, mental health, population health, and complex nursing care, with hands-on learning in four high-tech simulation labs. Students gain experience through clinical partnerships with hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies, including rural settings. The program boasts a 100% job placement rate and high NCLEX-RN pass rates. Graduates pursue roles such as hospital RN, nurse manager, clinical nurse, or public health nurse. Accreditation by CCNE and approval by the South Dakota Board of Nursing ensure quality. Supportive faculty and the Avera Achieve Sponsorship Program provide additional resources. The pinning ceremony marks a meaningful transition into nursing practice.

• CCNE accredited
• 100% job placement rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• High-tech simulation labs
• Clinical partnerships with hospitals
• Avera Achieve sponsorship program
• South Dakota Board of Nursing approval
• Pinning ceremony tradition
• Dedicated preceptor for clinicals
• Rural clinical opportunities

Augustana University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares you for a rewarding career in nursing with a unique holistic approach. As the only program in South Dakota endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, you'll learn to care for the whole person. The curriculum combines interactive learning, case studies, and advanced simulation, with weekly clinical experiences in Sioux Falls' leading healthcare systems like Sanford and Avera. Leadership practicums build essential skills in collaboration and delegation. Graduates work as nurses, educators, and administrators across hospitals, community agencies, and schools. CCNE-accredited and boasting NCLEX pass rates above state and national averages, the program also offers study abroad opportunities in Costa Rica, Norway, and Greece. You can join the Sigma Theta Tau honor society, the Nursing Student Association, and other organizations. Financial aid and scholarships, including the Joaquin J. Andujar Endowed Scholarship for military-affiliated students, are available.

• 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

Mount Marty University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares you for a rewarding career in nursing with a strong emphasis on hands-on clinical experience from the very start. You'll learn to care for diverse populations using advanced technology and develop skills in specialties like pediatrics, maternity, medical-surgical, gerontology, mental health, critical care, and community health. The curriculum blends nursing courses with related sciences such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and psychology. Grounded in Catholic Benedictine values, the program fosters compassionate, holistic patient care. Many graduates receive job offers before graduation, and exceptional students can pursue a direct entry path to Mount Marty's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program. With accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), this on-campus program in Yankton, South Dakota, equips you for NCLEX-RN licensure and a variety of nursing roles.

• CCNE accredited
• Hands-on clinicals from day one
• Job offer before graduation possible
• Specialties: pediatrics, maternity, med-surg, etc.
• Direct entry to DNAP program