Nursing and patient care programs in South Dakota

15 nursing and patient care programs in 4 fields of nursing and patient care, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these programs, and South Dakota has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 4 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs train you to care for patients directly: in a hospital, a nursing home or their own home. They run from short courses for nursing assistants (CNA), patient care technicians, home health aides and medication aides to LPN programs and RN degrees.

All job training programs in South Dakota, every line of work

Accredited nursing schools in South Dakota, each school with its accreditor

Nursing and patient care programs by state, to compare South Dakota with other states

Compare nursing and patient care programs in South Dakota: cost, pay and results

LPN programs (licensed practical nurse)
7 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
$11,220 to $13,284
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
66%
RN programs (registered nurse)
5 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
$11,065 to $11,726
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
CNA classes (nursing assistant)
2 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Medication aide training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in South Dakota may offer more. How these figures are made

Are there free nursing programs in South Dakota?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most LPN programs in South Dakota cost $11,220 to $13,284, and most RN programs $11,065 to $11,726. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in South Dakota, by line of work

Programs approved in South Dakota in each line of work.

Where the South Dakota nursing and patient care numbers come from

Which South Dakota programs are counted?

Programs South Dakota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what South Dakota offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

How reliable are the South Dakota figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for South Dakota: its rates sit far below every other state's.

Sources for the funding facts about nursing and patient care programs in South Dakota

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources