Awards and Rankings

Brookings Community

Brookings scores 100 on equality index for sixth straight year

For the sixth-straight year, Brookings has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

View 2023 MEI rankings

Recent Awards and Rankings

Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns in the US - Ranked No. 2 (cnbc.com, 2024)

Top 10 Most Arts-Vibrant Small Communities in the U.S. 2023: No. 9 in Small Communities category

No. 2 Safest Cities in South Dakota (Alarms.org, 2021, 2018)

No. 1 Best Places to live in South Dakota (Niche, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016).

No. 1 Best School Districts in South Dakota (Niche, 2020).

No. 16 in best performing micropolitan in the U.S. (Policom Corporation, 2020).

No. 2 Best School Districts in South Dakota (Niche, 2019, 2018, 2017).

No. 7 Top 10 Most Arts-Vibrant Small Communities in the U.S. (SMU Data Arts, 2019).

Named National Micropolitan Success Story (Walton Family Foundation, 2018).

Previous Awards and Rankings

No. 8 Top College Towns in America (Schools.com, 2017).

No. 25 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs in America (Livability/Entrepreneur, 2017).

No. 5 Safest City in America (ADT Security, 2015).

No. 1 Safest College Town in America (SafeWise, 2015).

1 of 11 communities chosen nationwide (and only non-metro area) for “Case Study for Positive Economic Transformation” (State of Indiana Study, 2014).

No. 5 Top 10 Best Small Towns in America (Livability, 2013).

SDSU Campus Community

SDSU named 2024 safest large college campus in South Dakota

South Dakota State University again tops the list for safest large college campus in South Dakota, according to a new report by SafeHome.org.

College Factual ranks SDSU No. 5 in Best Value Colleges for International Students

South Dakota State University ranked No. 5 in College Factual’s Best Value Colleges for International Students ranking. This ranking is out of 1,204 colleges in the U.S. that offer four-year degrees. South Dakota State is in the top 1% for international students seeking quality and affordability in U.S. education.

GradReports ranks SDSU No. 1 for public South Dakota universities

South Dakota State University was the top-ranked public institution in GradReports’ 2021 Best Colleges in South Dakota by Salary Score. In addition, SDSU’s 52.31 Salary Score is higher than the median for all U.S. colleges.

SDSU designated as a Purple Heart Campus

South Dakota State University became the nation's ninth Purple Heart Campus, recognized in a dedication ceremony. Kenneth Teunissen, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter No. 5355, read a resolution declaring SDState as the state's first Purple Heart Campus.

SDSU recognized as a Tree Campus USA

SDSU has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA annually since 2009. The national program promotes a thriving tree population on university campuses.

Read more about tree campus USA

Additional Campus Awards and Rankings

SDSU ranked the safest college campus in South Dakota For the third-straight year by YourLocalSecurity.com (2021)

Named to The Princeton Review’s 2021 ‘Guide to Green Schools’ list

Zippia ranks SDSU as the best total package college in state (2020)

SDSU Colleges, Departments and Programs

2024-2025 Award and Rankings

General

SDSU named to U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Public University (No. 149) and Best National University (No. 266) lists, ranked best in South Dakota.
SDSU named to Forbes 2024-2025 America’s Top Colleges, highest ranked university in South Dakota

2023-2024 Award and Rankings

General

South Dakota State University has been recognized as one of the top colleges in South Dakota for 2024, especially when it comes to online degree programs, according to Intelligent.com.