Cheapest Special Education and Teaching Colleges in South Dakota

Sinte Gleska University leads South Dakota's Special Education and Teaching programs with a remarkable net cost of just $7,075, creating a $17,648 gap between the state's most and least expensive options. This spread reflects the balance between tribal institutions, regional public universities, and private colleges serving rural communities. With South Dakota's teacher shortage affecting 85% of school districts, graduates earning $38,721 to $41,725 find immediate placement opportunities across the state's 149 school districts, many offering loan forgiveness programs for special education teachers.

Programs

$7,075 – $24,723

Net Price Range

$39,706

Avg. Program Earnings

55.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

9 Special Education and Teaching Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Sinte Gleska University Mission, South Dakota	$7,075	$4,714
2	Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota	$17,001	$9,000	38.6%	96.6%
3	Northern State University Aberdeen, South Dakota	$17,094	$8,845	52.2%	78.1%
4	University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota	$19,155	$9,432	61.4%	99.5%
5	Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota	$19,300	$32,890	46.4%	74.8%
6	Dakota State University Madison, South Dakota	$19,725	$9,633	49.3%	78.9%
7	University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota	$20,874	$20,740	60.5%	76.0%
8	Mount Marty University Yankton, South Dakota	$23,295	$33,100	60.6%	68.4%
9	Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota	$24,723	$39,190	75.6%	65.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Sinte Gleska University so much cheaper than other programs?

As a tribal university, Sinte Gleska offers in-state tuition of just $4,714 with additional federal funding support. This creates the lowest net cost at $7,075, nearly $10,000 less than the next cheapest option at Black Hills State University.

How do graduation rates compare between public and private schools?

Private institutions show stronger completion rates, with Augustana University leading at 75.60% and Mount Marty at 60.60%. Public universities range from 38.60% at Black Hills State to 61.40% at University of South Dakota, though they offer significantly lower costs.

Does the no state income tax benefit help with program affordability?

South Dakota's tax structure allows students to keep more of their earnings after graduation, effectively increasing the value of starting salaries between $38,721 and $41,725. Combined with low living costs, this makes loan repayment more manageable for the $23,351 to $27,625 debt ranges most graduates carry.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.