Taking Learning Very Seriously

From pre-school to higher education, Sioux Falls is a community that understands the importance of quality education options. A commitment to lifetime learning is evident in the success of our students and the number and consistent excellence of our institutions.

[K-12 Education] [Post Secondary Education]

K-12 Education

Public Education

Sioux Falls has the largest public school district in South Dakota, serving some 20,000 students.  By providing a multitude of opportunities, technologies and programs that target specific needs, the public schools deliver education for all--one student at a time.  The public schools start with excellent teachers and support staff, then invest in hundreds of hours of professional development to help them deliver excellence.

Sioux Falls public schools embrace the potential of a richly diverse student body--students represent a mosaic of diversity of cultures, abilities and wealth, creating a strong school system.  As a vital organization in the community, the public schools develop dynamic partnerships that add value for the students and for the community.

The system is composed of 23 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools, including Joe Foss Alternative School.  For more information about Sioux Falls' public schools, visit www.sf.k12.sd.us.

Non-Public Schools

Sioux Falls has many opportunities for elementary and secondary education in non-public schools.  Over a dozen non-public schools operate in Sioux Falls with a combined enrollment of approximately 3,800 students.  Religious denominations operating these schools include Roman Catholic, Lutheran Wisconsin Synod, Lutheran Missouri Synod, Christian Interdenominational, Baptist and Independent Fundamental. 

Special Needs Education

The Children's Care Hospital & School serves disabled children with therapy, education and special care to help them capitalize on individual capabilities. The South Dakota School for the Deaf provides academic and vocational education with programs from preschool through high school.

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Post Secondary

South Dakota Public Universities & Research Center

The University Center represents a rich entrepreneurial partnership of the five outstanding public universities in South Dakota – the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University and Black Hills State University. Each of these universities has unique missions, strengths and programs that they bring to Sioux Falls. It truly is a new model for higher education delivery. At University Center you will find complete degree programs at the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels. Programs emphasize areas vital to the growth and development of the greater Sioux Falls community and include business, education, health care, and information technology. The course delivery style and student services are designed to recognize the unique needs of adult and non-traditional students. Courses are scheduled throughout the day with the heaviest emphasis is in the late afternoon and evening. In addition, courses tend to meet just one night a week. Many students attend University Center as they begin their academic career or to satisfy general education requirements before transferring on to a campus to complete their program. The result of these creative and entrepreneurial efforts is nearly 3,500 students each year pursuing their goals. Visit University Center at www.SDUniversityCenter.org. University Center is dedicated to meeting the human capital needs of the growing and changing Sioux Falls economy.

Augustana College

Augustana College was founded in 1860 and is recognized today for its scholarly faculty and its talented and gifted student body. The College is known as a place that challenges the intellect, integrates faith with learning, and engages students, faculty and staff in a caring community. Central to its academic mission are five core values:  Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.  With an average ACT composite of 25, Augustana’s entering class annually possesses one of the top academic profiles in the region. The College’s fine reputation is affirmed by many outside sources, including being identified in Petersons 440 Colleges for Top Students.  U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the College in the top tier of its classification and a “Best Buy.”   Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Augustana has an annual enrollment of over 1,700 students, 94% of whom are full-time.  The College offers Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 46 majors and pre-professional specializations and the Master of Arts in Nursing, Education and Teaching.  Students participate in a variety of organizations and activities; 24% are active in the performing and visual arts laying claim to being “At the Heart of the Arts” in the Sioux Empire.  The Viking athletic program is a member of the NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  Annually, 25% of Augustana’s graduates pursue graduate and professional school study.  Acceptance to medical school alone is in the 90% range, twice the national average.  For those seeking jobs after graduation, 99% of the class of 2007 obtained jobs in their field within six months of graduation.  Visit www.augie.edu for more information.

University of Sioux Falls

The University of Sioux Falls is a private, coeducational, residential Christian university founded in 1883.  Affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA—USF is the second largest and the oldest private university in South Dakota. Nearly 1,700 students from 20 states and a variety of foreign countries walk the hallways and pathways of the Midwest campus. To further meet the needs of South Dakotans, the University has also begun offering graduate education classes in Rapid City.  Located in the center of Sioux Falls, USF is a 30-acre residential campus featuring beautiful statuesque buildings and abundant landscaping. USF facilities house the latest computers and research equipment.  In 2007, The University also opened the new USF Sanford Health Sports Complex, which is an additional 40-acre site off campus for intercollegiate athletics.  USF’s most popular majors (as determined by enrollment) are business administration, elementary education, exercise science, biology, and criminal justice.  More than 75% of USF’s full-time faculty have earned their Ph.D.s or equivalent degrees. The student-faculty ratio is 15 to 1.   USF is among the most affordable private Christian institutions in the Midwest.  For 2008-2009, tuition is $19,325, and room and board costs are estimated to average $5,640.  Total costs are estimated at $24,965. More than 97% of students receive aid. Within six months, more than 90% of USF students earn jobs in their fields or enter graduate school in their fields of choice.  Visit the USF web site at www.usiouxfalls.edu.

Southeast Technical Institute

For over 40 years Southeast Technical Institute has offered educational excellence to students in the Sioux Falls area and beyond. STI currently enrolls over 2,300 full and part-time students seeking Associate in Applied Science Degrees, Diplomas, or Certificates in one of more than 40 programs available. STI’s campus spreads across 168-acres and currently occupies five buildings for a total of 400,000 square feet. In on the cutting edge of technology, STI is home to “Laptop Tech,” a wireless network of laptop computers used for the majority of programs. STI has on-campus apartments that can accommodate up to two hundred full-time students. STI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. This allows close relationships with other institutes of higher learning. These relationships allow students to articulate credits to several private universities and all six state universities should they decide to pursue an advanced degree. Visit STI at www.southeasttech.edu.

Colorado Technical University

CTU-Sioux Falls Campus provides career-oriented education by teaching applied real-world, state-of-the-practice programs in selected technical, business, management, criminal justice and health science fields. The University serves the needs of students for employment and career advancement and the needs of industry for highly qualified professionals at the Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degree levels. CTU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools and the American Association of Medical Assistants. To learn more about CTU contact them at www.coloradotech.edu.

Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota

The Sanford School of Medicine maintains 4 campuses with the primary clinical campus (years 3 & 4) in Sioux Falls. In addition, the administration of the Medical School is located at the Health Science Center in Sioux Falls. The Health Science Center, Sanford Clinic USD Physicians and all hospitals in Sioux Falls serve as the teaching facilities for the School of Medicine and for other USD Health Science programs. The academic faculty component in Sioux Falls is approximately 180 individuals with a variety of skills ranging from clinical services to assessment expertise. The School of Medicine also has 5 affiliated residency programs in Sioux Falls, admitting over 30 residents per year. The residency instruction, as student instruction, takes place throughout the clinical facilities in Sioux Falls and the residents in turn serve as teachers for the medical students. The Cardiovascular Research Institute, a part of  Sanford Research/USD, forms the cornerstone of the Sanford School of Medicine’s research effort in Sioux Falls. For more information on the Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota visit http://www.usd.edu/med.

Kilian Community College

Kilian opened in September 1977.  Located in downtown Sioux Falls, Kilian operates on a 3-semester and a summer session calendar.  Programs offered include: Business Management, Accounting, Medical Office Administration, Administrative Office Management, Social Work, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Justice Studies, and Liberal Arts.  The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools accredits the college and allows students to articulate credits to other schools should they decide to pursue advanced degrees.  Visit Kilian at www.kilian.edu.

Mount Marty College

The Sioux Falls Campus of Mount Marty College houses the nurse anesthesia graduate program. It is one of 106 programs nationwide and is 30 months in length. Applicants must be licensed as a registered nurse with at least one year of acute care experience. Clinical experience within the program is gained in hospitals in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and North Dakota. Upon completion of the program of study a Master of Science degree is awarded and graduates are eligible to take a national certification examination. This program began in 1942 at Sacred Heart Hospital and moved to Sioux Falls in 1994. For more info, e-mail msna@mtmc.edu or visit www.mtmc.edu.

National American University

NAU, a multi-campus University founded in 1941 in Rapid City, has been serving Sioux Falls and the surrounding area for over 30 years.  Students enjoy small classroom sizes, lifetime job placement, instructors with real world experience and tutoring services.  Full time students have the flexibility of day, evening, on-line or one evening a week classes allowing them to work and obtain a degree at the same time.  NAU offers Associate, Bachelors and an on-line MBA degree.  Programs include paralegal, therapeutic massage, medical assisting, RN to BSN, health care management, information technology, business administration, accounting and general education studies. National American University, Sioux Falls Campus, is also now offering classes in Watertown.  NAU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of The North Central Association of Colleges & Schools. The medical assisting program is accredited by the AAMA.  Call 605-334-5430, 1-800-388-5430 or visit www.national.edu.

Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls Seminary has been providing graduate theological education for 150 years. More than 25 denominations are represented within the seminary student body.  SFS offers the following graduate degrees: doctor of ministry; master of divinity; and master of arts in bible and theology, Christian leadership, counseling, and marriage and family therapy. It also offers three graduate certificate programs. The campus includes the Education Building with its redesigned 2nd floor providing a preaching lab and teaching center equipped with up-to-date teaching tools, the Zimbleman Center houses Sioux Falls Psychological Services and the marriage and family therapy clinic, the Worship & Leadership Centre constructed in 1994, and the Kaiser-Ramaker Library with more than 68,000 volumes. Visit the seminary online at www.sfseminary.edu.

Other Educational Opportunities

Other educational opportunities are available including medical and radiologic technology, computer technology and cosmetology.  Bellevue University and Globe University/Minnesota School of Business also offer programs in Sioux Falls.

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