Career Training Path › South Dakota › Dakota State University
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota · Public university · Training programs available:
Address: 820 N Washington Ave, Madison, SD 57042 · Phone: (605) 256-5111 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Dakota State University is a public trade/career school in Madison, SD offering medical billing & coding programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt is $23,500 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $50,970; completion rate is not reported for this campus, though the state average is 73.8%.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Dakota State University; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 16.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical records specialists | $36,920 | $51,610 | $63,130 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in South Dakota (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 8 | $36,834 | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Dakota State University is a public university in Madison, South Dakota, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Students can use federal financial aid (FAFSA and Pell Grants) here, and the campus is best known within trade and career training for its medical billing & coding programs, with 3 programs in that family and 15 recent completers.
Federal data shows a median graduate debt of $23,500 and median earnings of $50,970 ten years after entry. About 16.8% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a mix of income backgrounds on campus. The campus's own completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data, though the statewide average completion rate is 73.8% for comparison. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With an undergraduate enrollment of 2,071 in a distant-town setting, Dakota State University functions primarily as a broader university rather than a dedicated short-program trade school, though its medical billing & coding offerings may suit career changers looking for a focused credential within a larger institution. Program length details are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcomes directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Dakota State University offers medical billing & coding programs, with 3 programs in that family and 15 recent completers.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The campus completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data. The statewide average completion rate is 73.8%, but a direct comparison is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is $23,500, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $50,970, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (605) 256-5111 or visit https://dsu.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Dakota State University is a public institution, which typically means state subsidies can affect tuition pricing compared to private schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for schedule details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and outcomes through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?219082 or by contacting the school directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not report program length or scheduling, so fit for adult career changers cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for specifics on medical billing & coding credentials.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Dakota State University at (605) 256-5111 or through its website at https://dsu.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; use the College Scorecard to compare institutions directly.
Nearby trade and career schools in South Dakota
- South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · university
- B-J School Buses, Inc (Scotland)Scotland, SD
- Bowes ConstructionBrookings, SD
- Flandreau Harlow's School Bus Service Inc.Bismarck, SD
- Harlow's Dakota ValleyNorth Sioux City, SD
- Harlow's Vermillion South DakotaVermillion, SD
- S&W Construction INCBrookings, SD
- Tim Steichen CDL ELDT Training LLCHarrisburg, SD
See all trade and career schools in South Dakota or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.