Best Nursing Schools Near Aberdeen, SD (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Aberdeen, South Dakota has 2 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Aberdeen has a population of about 28,297. Median household income is $63,715 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Dakota, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $263,930 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Nursing Schools to Aberdeen

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer nursing programs near Aberdeen, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Aberdeen city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Aberdeen. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Sisseton Wahpeton College

Sisseton, SD 68.5 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
26.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 16%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $31,546
Avg net price $2,977/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 14

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 114.4 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
59.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,070
Avg net price $19,841/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, SD 124.0 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
53.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,728
Avg net price $19,735/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD 158.4 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,521
Avg net price $21,383/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD 158.8 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,217
Avg net price $23,894/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Sinte Gleska University

Mission, SD 183.6 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
30.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 12%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $20,948
Avg net price $12,768/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD 186.5 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,179
Avg net price $22,227/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 200.3 miles from Aberdeen
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
52.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 99%
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,926
Avg net price $19,858/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,432
Out‑of‑state$12,942
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota nursing page.

Nursing Wages Near Aberdeen

Occupation Median Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide)
Registered Nurse $78,060
Licensed Practical Nurse $52,750
Nurse Anesthetist $263,930
Nurse Midwife N/A
Nurse Practitioner $128,840
Nursing Assistant $38,800

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Aberdeen at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 28,297 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $63,715 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 33.6% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Nursing-related employment in Brown County 1,930 workers, 16 establishments BLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Aberdeen-Area Cities With Nursing Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Aberdeen, SD?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Aberdeen. The closest is Sisseton Wahpeton College in Sisseton, SD (68.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Lake Area Technical College (77.3 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles in South Dakota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in South Dakota are: Nurse Anesthetist ($263,930), Nurse Practitioner ($128,840), Registered Nurse ($78,060). Wages for Aberdeen workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Watertown instead of Aberdeen?

Watertown, SD is 74.6 miles from Aberdeen and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Aberdeen an affordable place to study nursing?

Aberdeen’s median household income of $63,715 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Aberdeen while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Dakota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Aberdeen

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Aberdeen:

Data verified: September 6, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Nursing Schools in South Dakota: Online Programs (2026)