Augustana University Rankings

U.S. News & World Report

The Princeton Review

• The Princeton Review ranked Augustana as one of its 2025 Best Regional Colleges (in the Midwest) considered academically outstanding and well worth consideration in a college search.
• The Princeton Review featured AU in its "2025 Guide to Green Colleges" for being an environmentally-friendly university.

WalletHub

• WalletHub ranked Augustana as one of its 2024 Best Universities — the top university in South Dakota and No. 127 out of 770 universities nationwide, as well as No. 23 in the Midwest across 30 key measures, ranging from student-faculty ratio and graduation rate to post-attendance median salary.

The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse

• The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse, in collaboration with the independent market research firm Statista, recognized Augustana University as one of America's Best Colleges 2025.

Niche

• Niche ranked Augustana among the 2025 Best Colleges in South Dakota — giving the university a grade A- or above in athletics, diversity, dorms and student life. Niche also ranked AU in the Top 20 for Christian Colleges in America and the No. 2 College in South Dakota for academics, most diverse, education, student-athletes, small colleges, college location and biology.

College Raptor

• Augustana has once again been named a Hidden Gem College in the U.S. and Hidden Gem College in the Plains Region, as well as a Division II Hidden Gem College and Hidden Gem College for Nursing by College Raptor. 

Leading Colleges

• Leading Colleges recognized Augustana University with a 2024 Leading Colleges Award for its retention.

RegisteredNursing.org

• The Augustana University Nursing Program was ranked the best program in South Dakota for 2024 by RegisteredNursing.org — a nursing advocacy organization.

Augustana University Outcomes Report

• Augustana graduates who completed their bachelor’s degrees between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, were surveyed within six months of graduation. The report by the AU Student Success Center offers a snapshot of post-graduation activities and destinations for members of the Class of 2023.