PIERRE, S.D. (KELO-AM) -- South Dakota's technical institutes have the highest average resident tuition and fees in the region, according to a study from the South Dakota Legislative Research Council.
The study also notes the state's public universities have the second highest average undergraduate resident tuition and fees in the region and the third lowest in the region for average graduate resident tuition and fees.
"Regionally, South Dakota's two-year technical schools are the most expensive with tuition and fees costing about $6,320 in the 2016-2017 school year," according to the study. "Nebraska is the lowest in the region, with tuition and fees amounting to about $2,980 in the 2016-2017 school year."
The results were only slightly better for the state's universities, unless you're an out of state student.
"South Dakota's public universities currently have the second highest average undergraduate resident cost for tuition and fees in the region at $8,504 per year, with only Minnesota having a higher average cost of $9,888," according to the report. "However, South Dakota's public universities have the lowest average undergraduate nonresident cost for tuition and fees in the region at $11,732 per year compared to North Dakota, the next lowest, at $13,370."
The state also leads the region in the rate of increase.
"The ten-year change in tuition and fees for undergraduate nonresidents is greater than the increase for residents. South Dakota's ten-year average change for undergraduate nonresidents was 61%, which is the largest increase among the regional states," the report stated. "The South Dakota undergraduate nonresident average cost was $7,272 per year in the 2007-2008 academic year compared to the current average of $11,732 for tuition and fees."
Click to read the report.