Named among nation’s most affordable college towns, life in Brookings adds to value of SDSU education

This paid piece is sponsored by South Dakota State University.

There was a time when Anna Lockrem knew one thing for certain about her future college choice: It wouldn’t be SDSU.

“I’d grown up spending a lot of time on campus because my dad works there, and I felt like I’d experienced everything Brookings had to offer,” she said.

“So I didn’t look at coming here at all.”

But when she did begin looking at other schools, “I realized I did not want to pay $40,000 a year to go out of state,” she said.

“I ended up coming on a tour at SDSU, and I realized I could be happy here. It had everything I needed, but ultimately the affordability was my final decision point.”

Lockrem’s personal story illustrates a broader reality: SDSU clearly ranks among the nation’s best for an affordable college experience.

Brookings, home to SDSU’s main campus, recently was named the second most affordable college town in the U.S., according to a WalletHub study.

Factors considered in WalletHub’s 2025 Best College Towns in America included housing costs, cost of higher education and student loan debt per person.

“SDSU is committed to providing a quality education at an affordable cost,” said Michaela Willis, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at the university.

“This ranking affirms our commitment to the land-grant mission of SDSU in providing access to education and the importance of our strong relationship with the community of Brookings.”

The study evaluated 415 cities of various sizes with a college or university population of 7,500 students or more. Brookings and SDSU ranked No. 2 in the study’s wallet-friendliness category – among only three Midwest schools to make the top 10, with the other two in Indiana and Ohio.

For Lockrem, “SDSU was just a great option financially,” she said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do going into college, and that was a factor. Why would I go and pay so much when I don’t know what I’m doing? So this allowed me to explore my options without spending a lot of money figuring that out.”

The No. 1 reason students don’t attend college is because they can’t afford it. So SDSU has taken an intentional approach to bridging that gap and opening the door to higher education for a growing number of students.

This past fall, SDSU awarded more than $8.2 million in academic scholarships.

Ninety-seven percent of full-time students receive some type of financial aid – either federal financial aid, institutional scholarships or a combination of funding that helps offset their costs.

More than three in four incoming students receive some type of scholarship, thanks in part to the longstanding Jackrabbit Guarantee program, which offers scholarship awards beginning with a 3.0 high school GPA.

Beyond the assistance on campus, off-campus life is equally financially accessible.

“Brookings is a vibrant community and an affordable place to live and work,” said Tracy Greene, vice president and general counsel at SDSU. “This ranking shows SDSU is not only a great option for an education but also a premier place to work. Between the active campus and many great community amenities, Brookings has a lot to offer at an affordable cost of living.”

While Lockem’s parents had set aside money to pay for some college, she hasn’t taken out a single loan, covering much of it herself.

“SDSU offered me academic scholarships, and with that and my parents’ help, the majority of my first two years were paid for,” she said.

“Even though state employees don’t receive a discount when their kids attend public universities, the difference between going to school at SDSU was still huge compared to other places I looked.”

Since then, she has decided to major in public relations and found ways to cover the cost of her final two years at SDSU, which included a valuable study abroad experience. She and her roommates easily found a townhome in Brookings they could afford that includes lawn and snow maintenance.

“I’ve had some additional help but also paid my way through, working on campus for the student newspaper and as part of a student organization that puts on free and low-cost events for students, so I get paid through that as well,” she said.

An internship with Sioux Falls marketing firm Epicosity also led to a part-time job that continued during the school year and an offer for a full-time role when Lockrem graduates this spring.

“It was just the perfect fit and worked out great for me,” she said. “And it’s the biggest leg up going into the workforce after graduation debt-free because you can start putting money toward retirement right away.”

SDSU’s financial aid counselors are ready to work one-on-one with students and families to understand their unique financial situations. To get connected, click here. 

Think a college degree means a lot of debt? This experience shows otherwise