Healthcare and banking have made Sioux Falls the largest city in South Dakota, and Augustana University sits in a residential neighbourhood south of its downtown. The private Lutheran university traces its roots to 1860 and took university status in 2015. Nursing, biology and business are the big draws. The city's two health systems, Sanford and Avera, offer clinical placements.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Official website: augie.edu
1860 (roots)
Private Lutheran university
2015
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
$38,000 – $42,000
International students, before scholarships
$10,000 – $13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on augie.edu before you apply.
BA Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Nursing with clinical placements at Sanford and Avera hospitals.
Small classes on a residential campus.
A January term used for travel and short courses.
Graduates join Sanford Health, Avera and the city's banks and card-processing firms.
Nursing graduates find hospital jobs across the upper Midwest.
Bachelor's graduates can usually work 12 months in the US on OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Limited programmes
Postgrad
No PG intake
Falls Park, where the Big Sioux River tumbles over pink quartzite, is a short drive from campus. Downtown has a walkable main street with restaurants and an outdoor sculpture walk.
Rent is lower than in most US cities, and South Dakota has no state income tax. Winters are cold and windy.
Form I-20 issued by Augustana University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Augustana reviews applications on a rolling basis for fall and spring. International students should apply by spring for fall entry.
Most students start in late August; spring entry in January is possible for some programmes.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Augustana University after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Nursing, biology, business administration and computer science are popular. Admission is based on school grades, with about IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 for non-native speakers.
Augustana offers merit scholarships to international first-year students, and most receive some award. Amounts depend on your academic record.
