South Dakota Nursing School Application Tracker (Updated Weekly)

South Dakota’s public college nursing programs only take applications at set times, and every college runs on its own calendar. Miss a window and you could wait months. We track every LPN and RN program so you don’t have to.

Last checked Nov 7, 2026 · Confirm dates with the college before applying.

Open right now

• ● Open nowWestern Dakota Technical CollegeLPN to RN · Rapid CitySpring cohort applications are due Dec 1 (Dec 1, 2026 for spring 2027); the fall cohort deadline is July 1 (July 1, 2027 for fall 2027). You need an LPN license, 750 paid LPN hours in the last 3 years, the HESI LPN-ADN entrance exam (no minimum posted) and general education courses with a C or better. The RN Admissions Committee decides each applicant individually.See dates and apply →
• ● Open nowLake Area Technical CollegePractical nursing (LPN) · WatertownThe priority window for fall 2027 is Sept 1, 2026 – Feb 1, 2027, with ATI TEAS and transcripts also due Feb 1, 2027; later applications may be reviewed for the waitlist. Admission weighs your TEAS score, a preferred 2.5 GPA and prerequisite courses; no minimum TEAS is set, but ACT 24 or TEAS 75%+ with a 3.5 GPA and 6 general education credits earns automatic acceptance.See dates and apply →
• ● Open nowOglala Lakota CollegeRegistered nursing (ADN) · Pine RidgeNursing program applications are due March 1 each year (next: March 1, 2027), received by that date, not postmarked. You need a 3.0 GPA and must pass the Kaplan entrance exam after your application is processed. Preference goes to students with tribal affiliation; no seat count or points rubric is posted.See dates and apply →

Plus 6 more open programs in the full tracker below.

Enter your email to see the full tracker for 12 nursing programs at 6 South Dakota colleges, updated weekly. That’s it, no confirmation step. You’ll also get a weekly email when application windows open.

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Studying for the entrance exam? Try our free TEAS practice tests. Already in school? Practice with our free NCLEX-PN practice test.

South Dakota nursing school application tracker

Status	College	Program	Location	Schedule	What we found	Apply
🟢 Open now	Western Dakota Technical College	LPN to RN	Rapid City · Western South Dakota	1+1 bridge for licensed LPNs; fall and spring cohorts	Spring cohort applications are due Dec 1 (Dec 1, 2026 for spring 2027); the fall cohort deadline is July 1 (July 1, 2027 for fall 2027). You need an LPN license, 750 paid LPN hours in the last 3 years, the HESI LPN-ADN entrance exam (no minimum posted) and general education courses with a C or better. The RN Admissions Committee decides each applicant individually.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Lake Area Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN)	Watertown · Northeast South Dakota	Full-time on campus, 11 months, August start	The priority window for fall 2027 is Sept 1, 2026 – Feb 1, 2027, with ATI TEAS and transcripts also due Feb 1, 2027; later applications may be reviewed for the waitlist. Admission weighs your TEAS score, a preferred 2.5 GPA and prerequisite courses; no minimum TEAS is set, but ACT 24 or TEAS 75%+ with a 3.5 GPA and 6 general education credits earns automatic acceptance.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Lake Area Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN) – Hybrid full-time	Watertown · Northeast South Dakota	Full-time hybrid e-degree, 11 months, August start; online coursework with in-person clinicals and simulation (also via the Capital City Campus in Pierre)	Applications for the fall 2027 hybrid program are accepted Sept 1, 2026 – Feb 1, 2027, with ATI TEAS and transcripts due Feb 1, 2027; later applications may be waitlisted. Selection uses your TEAS score, a preferred 2.5 GPA and completed prerequisites, with automatic acceptance at ACT 24 or TEAS 75%+ plus a 3.5 GPA.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Lake Area Technical College	LPN to RN	Watertown · Northeast South Dakota	Full-time, 11 months (2 semesters and a summer), fall start; on campus or hybrid e-degree	Priority applications for the fall 2027 RN class (on campus or hybrid) are accepted Sept 1, 2026 – March 1, 2027; later applications may be reviewed for the waitlist. Licensed LPNs must complete the ATI Comprehensive Predictor NCLEX-PN by the deadline (no minimum posted). Selection weighs the ATI score, a 2.75 LPN program GPA, prerequisites, a personal statement and references, with interviews for some.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Oglala Lakota College	Registered nursing (ADN)	Pine Ridge · Western South Dakota	Four semesters; nursing courses at the Pine Ridge college center	Nursing program applications are due March 1 each year (next: March 1, 2027), received by that date, not postmarked. You need a 3.0 GPA and must pass the Kaplan entrance exam after your application is processed. Preference goes to students with tribal affiliation; no seat count or points rubric is posted.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Sinte Gleska University	Practical nursing (LPN)	Mission · South Central South Dakota	Fall start, once a year	Applications are due March 15 each year (next: March 15, 2027), and students are tentatively selected by May 15 to start in the fall. You need a 3.0 overall GPA, a personal essay and three references. The TEAS is required if your ACT is under 18 or over 5 years old, with at least 60% by June 30.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Mitchell Technical College	LPN to RN	Mitchell · South Central South Dakota	Online theory with limited campus trips; one-year plan (licensed LPNs with 600 paid hours) or two-year plan (fall start)	Applications are accepted any time, with applying by February encouraged for fall; a waiting list is used once the program fills. No entrance exam is listed: you need an LPN program GPA of 2.5, required general education courses with a C or better, and an LPN license plus 600 hours of paid LPN work (before the one-year plan, or during the first year of the two-year plan).	Apply
🟢 Open now	Mitchell Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN)	Mitchell · South Central South Dakota	One calendar year, fall start; on campus in Mitchell	Applications are accepted any time, but the college encourages applying by February for the following fall; popular programs fill early and a waiting list is used once full. You need an ATI TEAS composite of 62% or higher, a 2.5 GPA, and ACT 18 in each section or Accuplacer equivalent. 120 hours of direct patient care are due by the program start.	Apply
🟢 Open now	Western Dakota Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN)	Rapid City · Western South Dakota	Rapid City, plus Philip, Whitewood and Hot Springs locations; clinicals may include evenings, nights and weekends	The program page is taking applications for a seat in the spring 2027 cohort, but no deadline is posted. The most recent checklist requires a TEAS composite of 60 or higher (up to 3 attempts) plus Accuplacer or ACT 18 sub-scores. Turn in the application to secure a seat at your chosen location.	Apply
🟠 Confirming	Southeast Technical College	LPN to RN	Sioux Falls · Southeast South Dakota	12-month fall start, 18-month fall start, 12-month spring start or 18-month summer start	For LPNs with an active South Dakota license and 750 hours of LPN work before RN core classes (or a comprehensive predictor showing 85% probability of passing the NCLEX-PN within 6 months of LPN graduation). No entrance test is listed; a 2.5 college GPA is required, or the NLN NACE exam if below. No application window is posted.	Apply
🟠 Confirming	Southeast Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN)	Sioux Falls · Southeast South Dakota	12-month full-time (fall or spring start) or 18-month part-time (fall or spring start; day and evening options)	Southeast Tech lists fall and spring starts but posts no application window or deadline; apply through the free online application. You must meet TEAS minimums of Math 62 and Reading 73 (waived with ACT Reading and Math of 21+), plus two admission criteria such as a 2.5 high school GPA or ACT 18. CNA certification or direct patient care experience is needed before LPN courses.	Apply
⚪ Not posted yet	Lake Area Technical College	Practical nursing (LPN) – Hybrid part-time	Watertown · Northeast South Dakota	Part-time hybrid e-degree, 18 months, January start	The priority window for the spring 2027 part-time hybrid class ran April 1 – Oct 1, 2026 and has closed; late applications may still be reviewed for the waitlist if the class is not full. The next window is not posted yet. Same ATI TEAS-based selection as the full-time program.	Apply

Not listed: private and for-profit nursing schools, BSN-only university programs, and hospital diploma programs.

How South Dakota nursing admissions work

• Selection varies by college. Many programs rank applicants by points (prerequisite grades, entrance test scores, healthcare experience). Others admit first-come or from a waitlist. Each card says what the college lists.
• Entrance tests vary. South Dakota programs in this tracker use the ATI TEAS, the HESI A2, the Kaplan admission test, an NLN exam or other tests such as the ACT or Accuplacer, and some use none. Check each card above.
• Prerequisites must be done (or nearly done) by the deadline. Many colleges also want official transcripts by a set date.
• Some colleges post the same deadline every year without a year. We show the date as the college lists it. Confirm with the college before you plan around it.
• Apply to more than one. Because the windows fall at different times, you can apply to several colleges in the same year.

Tips while you wait for a window to open

• Finish anatomy and physiology, microbiology and English early. They’re the most common prerequisites.
• If your programs use the TEAS, take a practice test now so you have time to retake it before the deadline.
• Get your CNA or another healthcare job. It’s experience, and some programs award points for it.
• Attend an info session. Some colleges give points for it, and you’ll learn exactly how they rank applicants.

We built this tracker from each college’s official nursing pages. If you work at one of these colleges and see something out of date, let us know and we’ll fix it.