Best Cybersecurity Programs in South Dakota: 2026 Rankings
18 programs at 7 schools in South Dakota.
Updated
The strongest cybersecurity programs in South Dakota on this list are led by Dakota State University, Southeast Technical College, and Mitchell Technical College. Schools are ordered using our ranking for South Dakota, drawn from 18 programs at 7 schools.
Best cybersecurity programs in South Dakota
Rank
School
Location
1
Dakota State University
Madison, SD
2
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, SD
3
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, SD
4
National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD
5
California Intercontinental University
Sioux Falls, SD
6
National American University
Rapid City, SD
7
Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD
School names are plain text in the table. Profiles and write-ups are below when available.
How we ranked this list
We order schools on this page using our ranking method, with more weight on affordability (35%), student outcomes (30%), curriculum (15%). Figures draw from published school tuition and U.S. Department of Education outcomes data when available. Schools cannot pay for a higher rank. About 81% of programs on this list have full scoring data. Read the full ranking methodology.
Top schools in South Dakota
Each school lists a quick overview (program, estimated cost, format) plus a short program summary with links to official school pages and related program paths. Tuition figures are published estimates—confirm current totals on the school’s program page before you apply.
1
Dakota State University
Madison, SD
Cyber Defense · Ph.D.
Overview
Availability: Online or on campus
Estimated tuition total: $47,736 (~$663/credit)
Credits: 72
Best for: Working adults comparing this online cybersecurity path on cost and fit
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-CD, CAE-R, CAE-CO)
Program summary
Dakota State University sits in Madison. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 3–7 years (depending on dissertation pace).
Associate in Cybersecurity / Information Assurance
Overview
Availability: On campus
Estimated tuition total: Confirm on school site
Credits: Confirm on school site
Best for: Students comparing this specialty on cost and delivery (Mitchell Technical College)
Program summary
Start with Mitchell Technical College if this ranking angle matches your goals. Most of the work is on campus—labs and cohort access are part of the draw.
BS in Information Technology — Cybersecurity and Forensics Emphasis
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: Confirm on school site
Credits: Confirm on school site
Best for: Working adults comparing this online cybersecurity path on cost and fit (National American University)
Program summary
National American University sits in Rapid City. Expect the parent degree’s core plus an AI-focused set of electives—confirm how many credits must be AI-labeled before you treat it as an AI credential. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives.
Home unit: Information Technology Division. Details: program page.
What are the best cybersecurity programs in South Dakota?
On this state ranking, Dakota State University, Southeast Technical College, and Mitchell Technical College appear near the top. We list 7 schools offering cybersecurity programs in South Dakota. Confirm format and admissions on each school site.
How many cybersecurity programs are in South Dakota?
About 18 cybersecurity programs at 7 schools show up for South Dakota on this list. Confirm current offerings on each school site.
Online or campus?
Both can appear on state lists. Check each program’s delivery format and any required campus visits.
How does AIDegrees rank these programs?
We order schools on this page using our ranking method, with more weight on affordability (35%), student outcomes (30%), curriculum (15%). Figures draw from published school tuition and U.S. Department of Education outcomes data when available. Schools cannot pay for a higher rank. About 81% of programs on this list have full scoring data. See the full ranking methodology for weights and data sources.
Does NSA CAE matter in this state?
CAE designation helps for some federal and defense paths. We score official CAE map matches when available—still verify on the school site.
