South Dakota Nursing Schools

South Dakota has a lot of urban areas served by large hospitals that need nursing staff, and badly. The state also has a lot of more rural areas that are medically underserved. As a result, South Dakota is a state that has loads of potential jobs for a motivated, qualified nursing graduate. Though South Dakota only has seven campus-based nursing schools, these schools are beginning to implement things like online degree programs to help them reach more students.

In an effort to help draw more qualified medical staff to the state’s rural areas, South Dakota offers Rural Nursing Internships, course programs that emphasize nursing in a rural atmosphere. There are also specific incentives in place to help rural hospitals lure more nurses out to them, since urban areas are generally much more able to bait nurses with things like sign-on bonuses and tuition reimbursement programs.

Career Options for South Dakota Nurses

Nursing salaries vary across all of South Dakota, just like they usually do for states that encompass a variety of socioeconomic and geographical areas. A registered nurse working in a Sioux Falls hospital will earn a median annual income of $59,683, while an RN in Pierre will earn a median salary $56,594. These figures represent an actual salary range of $46,000-$71,000, which depends on where a nurse works, and which kind of facility he or she is employed by. All figures are from the BLS.

South Dakota Board of Nursing

South Dakota’s Board of Nursing is the state’s regulatory body for all things nursing-related, from educational programs to licensing. Nurses, nursing educators, and nursing students alike can turn to the Board of Nursing for information on licensing, examinations, approved nursing programs, patient complaints and disciplinary action, scope of practice, and more. The South Dakota Board of Nursing can be reached at 4305 South Louise Ave., Suite 201, Sioux Falls, SD, 57106-3115 or on their website.

Financial Assistance for South Dakota Nursing Students

South Dakota has a couple of very good financial aid programs to help out its nursing students. The cost of tuition is often a major obstacle when it comes to luring more students to nursing schools, but it can be overcome with programs like the following:

  • The Dakota Corps Scholarship Program, for high school students pursuing a college education in a “high need” industry like nursing
  • Scholarships from individual schools, like the University of South Dakota
  • Tuition reimbursement programs from employers

Scholarships & Grants for SD Residents

Following are examples of nursing scholarships and grants for South Dakota nursing students.

South Dakota Nurses Foundation
The Foundation, an arm of the South Dakota Nurses Association, administers three nursing scholarship programs including the South Dakota Nurses Foundation Scholarship.  Each has specific eligibility and submission requirements.  Awards range from $500 to $1,000.  Submission deadline for each program is mid-July annually.  Applications must be submitted to the Foundation at P.O. Box 1015, Pierre, SD 57501.  If you have questions, you can call the Foundation at (605) 945-4265.

South Dakota Community Foundation
The Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate students who graduated from South Dakota high schools.  Nursing students who meet this criterion are eligible for scholarships from the Foundation including the Ruth D. Frick Ames Scholarship and the James & Zelda Ruddy Scholarship.  All scholarships have individual eligibility and submission requirements.  Award amounts and deadlines vary. For current applications and guidelines, contact the Foundation at 1714 North Lincoln Avenue, P.O. Box 296, Pierre, SD 57501 or by calling (605) 224-1025.

The Hatterscheidt Foundation, Inc.
If you are a senior at a South Dakota high school with at least a 3.0 GPA and have been accepted to a South Dakota nursing program, you may be eligible for scholarship from the Foundation. In addition to financial need, awards are based on academic achievement and potential, personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Award amounts are $1,400. There are no deadlines for application submissions.  For an application form and guidelines, contact your nursing school’s financial aid office.  Completed applications must be mailed to the Foundation at 204 South 1st Street, Aberdeen, SD 57402.  For general questions, you can call (605) 229-8223.

South Dakota State University
Students enrolled in the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University have multiple opportunities to receive scholarships. In addition to general scholarships available to all students, nursing students are eligible to apply for a variety of nursing scholarships.  Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria that must be met prior to application.  In addition to the scholarship application, students must submit a completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Scholarships are awarded based on academic scores, financial need, and letters of recommendation.  For more information, students can contact the College of Nursing directly at (605) 688-5178.

Leland & Lucille Strahl Educational Trust
Nursing students who graduated from the Northwestern or Redfield school districts in South Dakota may be eligible for scholarships from the Trust.  Scholarships are awarded based on academic scores, financial need, and community service.  Award amounts vary.  There are no deadlines for application submissions.  For applications and guidelines, contact the Trust, c/o Dacotah Bank, P.O. Box 1210, Aberdeen, SD 57402.  Completed applications must be mailed to the Trust, c/o Leland Strahl, 26 West 6th Avenue, Apartment 306, Redfield, SD 57469.  If you have general questions, you can call (605) 472-0425.


List of Nursing Schools & Accredited Programs in South Dakota

★ Featured Nursing Schools Accepting South Dakota Applicants

List of South Dakota Nursing Schools

Augustana College

Nursing Programs Offered:
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Parish Nursing
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
2001 S Summit Ave
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57197-0001
Phone:(605) 274-0770
Phone: (800) 727-2844
Website: www.augie.edu
Augustana College is a 4-year, private not-for-profit institution.

Dakota Wesleyan University

Nursing Programs Offered:
Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Bachelor’s of Arts in Nursing (BAN)
Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor’s of Arts in Nursing (BAN)
Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
1200 W University Ave
Mitchell, South Dakota 57301-4398
Phone:(605) 995-2600
Phone: (800) 333-8506
Website: www.dwu.edu
Dakota Wesleyan University is a 4-year, private not-for-profit institution.

Lake Area Technical Institute

Nursing Programs Offered:
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
230 11th St NE, Watertown
South Dakota 57201-0730
Phone:(605) 882-5284
Phone: (800) 657-4344
Website: www.lakeareatech.edu
Lake Area Technical Institute is a 2-year, public institution.

Mount Marty College

Nursing Programs Offered:
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
1105 W. 8th Street
Yankton, South Dakota 57078-3724
Phone:(800) 658-4552
Website: www.mtmc.edu
Mount Marty College is a 4-year, private not-for-profit institution.

National American University-Rapid City

Nursing Programs Offered:
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
321 Kansas City Street
Rapid City, South Dakota 57701-3692
Phone:(605) 394-4800
Phone: (800) 209-0490
Website: www.national.edu
National American University-Rapid City is a 4-year, private for-profit institution.

Presentation College

Nursing Programs Offered:
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN/BSN)
Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
1500 N Main
Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-1280
Phone:(605) 225-1634
Phone: (800) 437-6060
Website: www.presentation.edu
Presentation College is a 4-year, private not-for-profit institution.

Sisseton Wahpeton College

Nursing Programs Offered:
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Registered Nurse (RN)
BIA Rd 700
P.O. Box 689
Agency Village, South Dakota 57262
Phone:(605) 698-3966
Website: www.swc.tc
Sisseton Wahpeton College is a 2-year, public institution.

South Dakota State University

Nursing Programs Offered:
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Refresher
Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Clinical Nurse Leader
Nurse Administrator
Nurse Educator
Post-Master’s of Science in Nursing Certificate
Registered Nurse (RN) Refresher
Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN Mobility)
Registered Nurse (RN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Registered Nurse to Master’s of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN)
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Administration Lane
Brookings, South Dakota 57007-1898
Phone:(800) 952-3541
Website: www.sdstate.edu
Sisseton Wahpeton College is a 4-year, public institution.

Southeast Technical Institute

Nursing Programs Offered:
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Registered Nurse (RN)
2320 N Career Ave
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107-1301
Phone:(605) 367-6040
Website: www.southeasttech.edu
Sisseton Wahpeton College is a 2-year, public institution.

University of South Dakota

Nursing Programs Offered:
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
414 E Clark St
Vermillion, South Dakota 57069-2390
Phone:(605) 677-5301
Phone:(877) 269-6837
Website: www.usd.edu
University of South Dakota is a 4-year, public institution.

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Nursing Programs Offered:
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
Accreditation:Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
800 Mickelson Dr
Rapid City, South Dakota 57703-4018
Phone:(605) 394-4034
Phone: (800) 544-8765
Website: www.wdt.edu
Western Dakota Technical Institute is a 2-year, public institution.