The best college dorms in South Dakota for 2027 combine hall variety, strong amenities, and a clear path from first-year housing to apartments. This guide covers 10 South Dakota schools, from small campuses like Mount Marty and Dakota Wesleyan to larger universities like South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota.
This guide follows the University Magazine ranking list for South Dakota and uses the published University Magazine rankings methodology for institution-level context. Each section summarizes housing details from the school’s own pages so you can compare halls, room types, and requirements before you apply. For more state guides, browse our best dorms rankings and the wider university rankings.
The Best College Dorms in South Dakota 2027
1. Northern State University
Northern State in Aberdeen offers private rooms with twin XL beds, desks, and storage in every hall, plus full kitchens and laundry. Wolves Memorial Suites (2017) and Great Plains West (2018) offer suite and semi-suite layouts, and Great Plains East is pod-style and includes the GRID Market, a 24/7 self-service store.
Kramer Hall is the longest-standing suite hall, Steele Hall has four-person suites, and McArthur-Welsh offers singles and doubles. See Northern State housing features.
2. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota Mines houses first- and second-year students in Connolly, Palmerton, and Peterson Halls, with doubles, triples, quads, and study quads, and community kitchens and lounges. Placer Hall offers suites with two double bedrooms or four singles for second-years.
Upper-class students move to Rocker Square I and II apartments, mostly with four single bedrooms and full kitchens, and Rocker Square residents must have a meal plan. Alcohol is allowed for residents 21 and older. See Mines residence halls.
3. Augustana University
Augustana’s seven halls share lobbies, lounges, kitchens, and rooms with a twin XL bed, dresser, desk, and a shared mini-fridge and microwave unit. Bergsaker is for first-years, Tuve (opened 1950) has single rooms, and Stavig and Granskou are eight-floor high-rises. Wagoner Hall (2021) has suites of two doubles sharing a restroom, Solberg suits upper-class students, and East Hall, built in 1905, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Students can opt into flexible housing. See Augustana residence halls.
4. Black Hills State University
Black Hills State in Spearfish requires students within two years of high school graduation to live on campus, with exceptions granted by Residence Life. The Peaks include Heidepriem Hall (154 residents) and Thomas Hall (152), both co-ed, and Humbert Hall houses 80 or more students across from the Student Union.
Wenona Cook Hall is the oldest residence hall. Rooms have a twin XL bed, dresser, desk, and wardrobe, and each hall has a kitchenette and laundry. Yellow Jacket Apartments offer suites for students over 19. See BHSU residence halls.
5. University of Sioux Falls
Unmarried, full-time first- and second-year students at USF must live on campus and buy a meal plan for their first two years, unless they are 21, married, or living with parents. Sullivan Faith and Living Center (2005) holds up to 180 students, and a 2017 hall added suites of two doubles sharing a bathroom. Mary Collier Baker Hall has two-bedroom apartments for four, and Grand Island, Kroske, and Burgess Halls are smaller communities. Every hall has cable, internet, laundry, and card access. See USF residence life.
6. South Dakota State University
South Dakota State in Brookings offers living-learning communities and themed housing. Hansen Hall, built in 1967, is a four-story co-ed hall for 386 residents with single and double rooms and the Hansen C-Store. Hansen also has new room types: alcohol-permitted rooms for students 21 and older in the west wing, and pet-permitted rooms on the first floor. See Hansen Hall and SDSU living-learning options.
7. Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell built Dakota Hall, a 30,000-square-foot co-ed hall for 114 returning students, sophomores and up. It has 57 rooms with air conditioning and heating, two private bathrooms per quadrant, an elevator, and wired and wireless internet. Each floor has a common area and study room, kitchenettes are on the first and third floors, and laundry is on the second floor. The hall mirrors the floor plan of Dayton Hall. See Dakota Hall report.
8. Dakota State University
Dakota State in Madison offers Emry and Richardson Halls, both co-ed and mainly for first-years, with Richardson the largest. Higbie Hall is mainly for upper-class students, and Zimmermann Hall was renovated for upper-class students. Residence Village, opened in 2021, has four floors of single rooms with study areas, lounges, laundry, and a coffee shop. The Courtyard (2017) holds 107 students, and 8-Plexes, Van Eps Place, and Girton House offer apartment-style living. See DSU residence halls.
9. University of South Dakota
USD requires first- and second-year students to live on campus. The North Complex (Beede, Mickelson, Richardson, and Olson) is co-ed, has kitchens and laundry, and houses all living-learning communities. Coyote Village is a four-story, 175-unit suite and apartment complex. Burgess and Norton Halls are smaller single-gender communities with doubles, and McFadden Hall has four-person apartments for upper-class students. USD does not offer family housing. See USD housing.
10. Mount Marty University
Mount Marty in Yankton lists two traditional halls. Whitby Hall has air conditioning, updated beds and furniture, renovated bathrooms, and a lounge with pool, foosball, air hockey, and table tennis. Corbey Hall is co-ed, with a living area on each floor and a large kitchenette. Rickenbach Suites is a newer residence hall, and the university’s president pledged $100,000 in January 2026 toward another future hall. See Mount Marty campus housing.
Housing rates, hall closures, and requirements change each year, so check each school’s housing office before you apply. Use this list to narrow your options, then compare halls, room types, and costs on the official pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best college dorms in South Dakota for 2027?
Northern State University, South Dakota Mines, and Augustana University lead this University Magazine list for 2027, followed by Black Hills State, the University of Sioux Falls, and South Dakota State. All 10 schools are ranked below with housing details from official sources.
Which South Dakota colleges require students to live on campus?
The University of South Dakota and the University of Sioux Falls require first- and second-year students to live on campus, and Black Hills State requires students within two years of high school graduation to do so, with exceptions.
Which South Dakota schools have suite-style housing?
Northern State (Wolves Memorial Suites, Great Plains West), South Dakota Mines (Placer Hall), Augustana (Wagoner Hall), the University of Sioux Falls (North Residence Hall), and USD (Coyote Village) offer suite-style options.
Which South Dakota school allows pets in residence halls?
South Dakota State offers pet-permitted rooms on the first floor of Hansen Hall, including cats, dogs, caged animals, and aquarium animals.
Which South Dakota dorms are the newest?
Augustana’s Wagoner Hall opened in 2021, Dakota State’s Residence Village opened in 2021, and the University of Sioux Falls added a suite-style hall in 2017.
Top 10 Best College Dorms in South Dakota 2027: Ranked List
- Northern State University
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Augustana University
- Black Hills State University
- University of Sioux Falls
- South Dakota State University
- Dakota Wesleyan University
- Dakota State University
- University of South Dakota
- Mount Marty University
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