Nursing Schools in South Dakota

Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This is a private Norwegian-heritage liberal arts university affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It was first established back in 1860, meaning that it has roots that go back to the distant past. Currently, this school serves more than 2000 students. Students will be able to earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in more than 50different fields of study. The school also has an athletics department that participates in the NCAA.

The Augustana University nursing program is one of the most notable programs at the school. Students can earn bachelor’s of science degrees in nursing at this school. This school allows students to get hands-on learning experience with many different clinical opportunities. The success rates for those taking the NCLEX-RN licensure exam has always been consistently above the national and state averages as well. This baccalaureate nursing program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

Lake Area Technical Institute is located in Watertown, South Dakota on a 40-acre campus. It was established back in 1965and is actually the very first technical school that was established in South Dakota. This school has thirty different programs of study including many associate’s degree options and certificate courses. Students will also be able to enjoy various e-degree possibilities, making for an educational institution that is very convenient for all students. The school has been helping students to receive the training that they need to gain employment in high-demand career fields. The Lake Area Technical Institute is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Students of Lake Area Technical Institute will be able to pursue practical nursing or associate’s degree nursing paths. The practical nursing path even offers an e-degree option. Students will need to complete the practical nursing portion of the curriculum first before proceeding with their second year. Students can complete the practical nursing program in 11 months when attending school on a full-time basis. There is also a part-time option available for the e-degree course. The nursing program at Lake Area Technical Institute has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

South Dakota State University (SDSU) is a public institution in Brookings, South Dakota. It is part of the South Dakota Board of Regents, which operates six campuses throughout the state. SDSU was established in 1881 as the Dakota Agriculture College before South Dakota became a state. The nursing program was established in 1956. The main campus includes the 73,000-square-foot SDSU Wellness Center, which opened in 2008. Students receive a free membership to the Wellness Center. It includes several basketball courts, a competition-size swimming pool, and a rock-climbing wall. SDSU also has a West campus and an East campus. The East campus includes the McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum with a 20-acre public display. 

SDSU offers undergraduate and graduate CCNE-accredited nursing programs. The undergraduate options include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN. Graduate degree programs include MSN, RN to MSN, DNP, BSN to DNP, and a Ph.D. program. The accelerated program is offered to students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. It is designed to be completed in 12 months and is offered at both the Aberdeen and Sioux Falls campuses. The traditional BSN program is offered at the Brookings campus and is designed to be completed in two and a half years. 

Southeast Technical Institute is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Southeast Tech has been serving the community for more than 45 years. There are 50 different career paths at this school and many of them can lead directly to lucrative employment opportunities. There are many associate’s degrees that can be obtained in various different fields as well as certificates and diplomas. This school has a reputation for being South Dakota’s most affordable post-secondary institution. Southeast Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Southeast Tech nursing program allows students to pursue becoming licensed practical nurses (LPN) or registered nurses (RN). There are classroom experiences, laboratory courses, and clinical experiences on- and off-campus. The school also offers LPNs the chance to attain their RN status in just one year. This school’s nursing programs have been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The school also has the full approval of the South Dakota Board of Nursing.

The University of Sioux Falls (USF) is a private institution in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It was founded in 1883 as a Christian liberal arts college. The university is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches and aims to help the development of Christian students to better serve God and humankind. The university offers 40 undergraduate programs, including several nursing programs. They also have study-abroad partnerships with universities in South Africa, Greece, South Korea, and Puerto Rico. Students maintain more than 100 organizations, clubs, and student activities on the campus. These clubs include everything from Chess Club to Jazz Ambassadors. 

The USF School of Nursing offers three BSN programs, including traditional BSN, RN to BSN, and accelerated BSN. They also offer an LPN program. The BSN programs were accredited by the CCNE in 2011. The RN to BSN program is offered 100% online. Students do not need to take any classes on campus or complete any clinical rotations. The traditional and accelerated programs provide clinical experiences with real patients at local healthcare clinics and simulation training in state-of-the-art facilities. The accelerated program includes four semesters of courses while the traditional program includes eight semesters of courses.