What Is the Most Expensive University in South Dakota?

Augustana University's beautiful campus, nestled in the heart of Sioux Falls, creates an inviting academic atmosphere. As one of South Dakota's elite private institutions, Augustana provides a premier educational experience that carries a sizable price tag for students and families.

While the cost is substantial, the university aims to deliver exceptional value through its rigorous academics, personal mentorship opportunities, and comprehensive resources.

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Augustana is a private university that was founded in 1860 and its ranking in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 edition of Best Colleges is an impressive Regional Universities Midwest, #17. Its tuition and fees are $39,190.

In the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges study, Augie also came in number 4 for Best Value Schools. So obviously you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

Forty-three percent of their classes have fewer than 20 students with a 12 to 1 student-faculty ratio and there is a 61% four-year graduation rate.

Reflecting high levels of student contentment, 83% of first-year students choose to continue their educational journey at Augustana the following year, as evidenced by Augie's impressive freshman retention rate.

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The Top 5 Most Popular Majors at Augustana (in 2022)

Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Education
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Social Sciences

The degrees Augustana offers include, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate - professional practice. They also have dual degree programs in engineering and the University of Exeter (UK) Archaeology Program.

The median starting salary for alumni, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges study is $45,806.

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The 10 Largest Occupations in South Dakota

Where do people in South Dakota work?

If you were a South Dakotan a hundred years ago, chances are you had a job related to farming or ranching. If you weren't doing the farming, you were selling things to the farmers, fixing things for the farmers, or buying things from the farmers.

In the 2020s, things are very different.

Most of us in the SD work in health care or the service industry in one way or another. In fact, there are more nurses in South Dakota than the entire population of the state capital, Pierre.

Today far more people work at a store or restaurant than have probably ever even been on a farm. Time passes and things change, always. Fifty years from now who knows what jobs South Dakotans will be doing

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the top 10 largest occupations in South Dakota (as of 2022).

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota

From soda to pop to sloppy Joes, different parts of of the country have their own local quirks and language. Simple phrases can have totally different means, local events may seem weird, and food may go by a unique name.

If you're new to South Dakota here is a sort of translation guide for some odd things you may see or hear.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

Source: What Is the Most Expensive University in South Dakota?