Nursing Schools in South Dakota: All 19 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
South Dakota has 14 schools running 19 board-approved nursing programs — 13 RN-track and 6 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across South Dakota programs is 90.7%, 4.2 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Mitchell Technical College (MTC)Mitchell · Associate Degree RN Programs
- 297.4%University of Sioux Falls (USF)Sioux Falls · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
- 395.6%Augustana University (AU)Sioux Falls · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
- 493.9%Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU)Mitchell · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
- 593.3%South Dakota State University (SDSU)Brookings · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
- 691.5%Southeast Technical College (STC)Sioux Falls · Associate Degree RN Programs
- 791.2%Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC)Rapid City · Associate Degree RN Programs
- 891%University of South Dakota (USD)Vermillion · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
- 985%Lake Area Technical College (LATC)Watertown · Associate Degree RN Programs
- 1067.9%Mount Marty University (MMU)Yankton · Baccalaureate Degree RN Programs
Every Approved Nursing Program in South Dakota
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
19 of 19 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Augustana University (AU) | Sioux Falls | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 95.6% |
| Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU)New/provisional | Mitchell | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | — |
| Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) | Mitchell | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 93.9% |
| Lake Area Technical College (LATC) | Watertown | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 85% |
| Lake Area Technical College (LATC) | Watertown | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | 97.7% |
| Mitchell Technical College (MTC) | Mitchell | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 100% |
| Mitchell Technical College (MTC) | Mitchell | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | 100% |
| Mount Marty University (MMU) | Yankton | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 67.9% |
| Northern State University (NSU)New/provisional | Aberdeen | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | — |
| Oglala Lakota College (OLC) | Pine Ridge | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | — |
| Sinte Gleska University (SGU) | Mission | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | — |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College (SWC) | Sisseton | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | — |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) | Brookings | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 93.3% |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) | Sioux Falls | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 91.5% |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) | Sioux Falls | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | 98.1% |
| University of Sioux Falls (USF) | Sioux Falls | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 97.4% |
| University of South Dakota (USD) | Vermillion | Baccalaureate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 91% |
| Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) | Rapid City | Associate Degree RN ProgramsRN | 91.2% |
| Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) | Rapid City | Practical Nurse ProgramsPN | 85.7% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in South Dakota by NCLEX pass rate?
Mitchell Technical College (MTC) in Mitchell had the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in South Dakota at 100%, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 14 schools offering 19 board-approved nursing programs: 13 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 6 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in South Dakota?
Across South Dakota RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 90.7% — 4.2 points above the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the South Dakota board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.