Each year, approximately 0.8% of South Dakota graduates receive certificates in nursing. In other words, every year an estimated 186 licensed vocational nurses graduate from South Dakota's 5 LVN schools.

Top Schools

Lake Area Technical Institute, which was ranked 64th nationwide in 2010, is the top-ranked school in South Dakota that has a LVN program. It is located in Watertown. 64 students graduated with a certificate in LVN from Lake Area Technical Institute in 2010. The tuition rate at Lake Area Technical Institute was $5,236 per year.

The second-ranked school in South Dakota with a LVN program is Mount Marty College, which is located in Yankton. In 2010, it was ranked 76th nationwide. Students at Mount Marty College paid $19,932 per year in tuition fees.

The third-ranked school in South Dakota with a LVN program is Western Dakota Technical Institute, which is located in Rapid City. In 2010, it was ranked 78th nationwide. 37 students graduated with certificate in LVN from Western Dakota Technical Institute in 2010. Students at Western Dakota Technical Institute paid $4,860 per year in tuition fees.

Cost

If you are hoping to attend one of South Dakota's LVN schools, you can expect to pay an average tuition of $7,358 per year, though tuition can range from $19,932 per year to $3,154 per year. The highest tuition rates in 2010 at South Dakota LVN schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Mount Marty College - located in Yankton, students are charged $19,932 per year
2. Lake Area Technical Institute - located in Watertown, students are charged $5,236 per year
3. Western Dakota Technical Institute - located in Rapid City, students are charged $4,860 per year

The LVN schools in South Dakota that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. Sinte Gleska University - located in Mission, students are charged $3,154 per year
2. Southeast Technical Institute - located in Sioux Falls, students are charged $3,606 per year
3. Western Dakota Technical Institute - located in Rapid City, students are charged $4,860 per year

A LVN certificate from a South Dakota school... what next?

The highest percentage of LVN graduates in South Dakota pursue careers as a licensed vocational nurse. In 2010, there were 1,910 licensed vocational nurses working in South Dakota. The South Dakota counties with the largest populations of licensed vocational nurses are:

1. Beadle County - 620 licensed vocational nurses
2. Lincoln County - 610 licensed vocational nurses
3. Meade County - 310 licensed vocational nurses

Salary

A licensed vocational nurse in South Dakota earns $33,910 per year on average. However, this number is only an average. licensed vocational nurses in South Dakota had varying salaries from $25,450 to $44,210 per year in 2010. The counties in South Dakota with the highest average salary for a licensed vocational nurse are:

1. Lincoln County - $35,200 per year
2. Meade County - $34,930 per year
3. Bennett County - $34,070 per year

A licensed vocational nurse in the following counties in South Dakota make the lowest salaries on average:

1. Beadle County - $32,430 per year
2. Aurora County - $32,800 per year
3. Bennett County - $34,070 per year

More Information

For more data regarding a career in nursing in South Dakota and to compare salaries with various related fields such as nurse assisting or RN, take a look at the graphs and charts below.