South Dakota Nursing Schools and Programs

South Dakota is known as the "Mount Rushmore" state since it is home to the national mountain carved monument of four presidents. The western part of the state has the rugged, beautiful Black Hills, traditionally home to the Sioux people. There are many outdoor adventures within the Black Hills and it is home to the original town of Deadwood and the gold rush. There are historic Wild West figures buried here, gaming, and various winter sports as well. Further east, you will find fishing and nationally known pheasant hunting, as well as the ancient Badlands National Park where the most famous dinosaur fossils have been found.

South Dakota provides several opportunities for nursing education in technical schools, community colleges and universities throughout the state. While being a very rural state, South Dakota has top notch nursing programs to help the shortage problem. South Dakota's shortage is not as large as the national shortage, but the hardest spots to fill are the rural areas. Great deals of rural residents remain poor and underserved, and the rural area need is high for experts in nutrition, counseling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and pre-natal care. South Dakota has created a plan for recruitment and set up many more community college and university extensions in rural areas to help students finish their degrees. South Dakota has options for online classes through many universities, as well as online university programs available. Online nursing schools have created an opportunity for nurses in rural areas to advance their education.

Degree Programs:

Adult Care, Anatomy, Community Health, Epidemiology, Family Care, Gerontology, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Neonatal, Nursing, Nutrition, Pain Management, Pathophysiology, Physiology, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Registered Nurse

Largest Cities:

Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Brandon, Brookings, Huron, Madison, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre, Rapid City, Rapid Valley, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Watertown, Yankton

Additional Resources:

SD Nursing Association
http://www.sdnursesassociation.org/

SD Board of Nursing
http://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing/

SD Travel
http://www.travelsd.com/

SD Hospital Directory
http://www.healthgrades.com/hospital-directory/south-dakota-sd

School Enrollment Type Accredited Online Program Degrees Find Scholarship
Augustana College 1,700 Private Yes No BS/BSN, MSN find scholarships
Lake Area Vocational Technical Institute 0 Public Yes No Associate, LPN find scholarships
Mount Mary College 1,000 Private No No BS/BSN, Nurse Anesthetist find scholarships
Oglala Lakota College 1,000 Public No No Associate find scholarships
Presentation College 460 Private Yes No Associate, BS/BSN, RN-to-BSN find scholarships
Sisseton Wahpeton College 230 Public No No Associate, LPN find scholarships
University of South Dakota 5,100 Public Yes No Associate find scholarships