Find the best online colleges in South Dakota ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.
Find the best online colleges in South Dakota ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.
Almost 20 higher education institutions award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in South Dakota, and only two schools exceed 5,000 in student population. The average college tuition in the state is $8,450, which is under the national average. Of the 11 public institutions, South Dakota State University is the largest with just over 10,000 students, and it has a tuition of $9,000.
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With a comparable tuition, the University of South Dakota is the second largest school in South Dakota. Students can earn degrees in areas such as earth science, physics, and engineering.
Eight private schools in South Dakota offer degrees ranging in tuition from $3,000 to $33,000. Many of these universities are religiously affiliated, Augustana University being the largest and most expensive. This Lutheran university is located in Sioux Falls and offers programs in economics, psychology, and biology.
The most affordable colleges in South Dakota, Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska University, are both tribal institutions charging $3,000 in fees.
Two monuments are carved into the rock of the Black Hills in South Dakota: Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. In addition to its majestic mountains, South Dakota’s lands are some of the richest in fossils.
Badlands National Park is home to unique rock formations as well as the fossils of saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and ancient marine animals. With vast plains and unique mountains, South Dakota offers a stunning setting for students looking to earn their degree in The Mount Rushmore State.
Find out more about the top programs and higher education opportunities available in South Dakota.
While it’s recommended to pursue a degree program at an online college that fits your personality and professional goals, it’s also important to consider the expanding industries in South Dakota. If you take the time to research the kinds of occupations that are well-liked and in demand after graduation, you might have a wide range of career alternatives in the future.
Following are the top ten industries for growth in South Dakota, according to SD Department of Labor & Regulation:
Expected Growth Rate: 22.7%
This industry involves storing and distributing goods for manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and other businesses. It includes managing inventory, handling shipments, and optimizing storage space.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 16.0%
These businesses purchase goods from manufacturers and sell them to retailers or other companies. “Durable goods” refers to items with a longer lifespan, such as appliances, electronics, and machinery.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 13.8%
This industry encompasses a range of services to support and assist individuals and families in need. It includes services like childcare, counseling, vocational training, and support for the elderly or disabled.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 13.2%
This industry involves diverse specialized services provided by professionals such as lawyers, accountants, engineers, architects, consultants, and researchers. These services often require advanced knowledge and expertise.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 12.4%
This industry involves the production of various types of machinery, equipment, and industrial tools. It spans a wide range of products, from heavy machinery used in construction to precision instruments used in manufacturing processes.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 12.0%
These retail establishments sell products related to sports, hobbies, books, and music. This includes sporting equipment, craft supplies, books, and musical instruments.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 11.5%
This industry involves collecting, transporting, processing, and disposing of waste materials. It also includes environmental remediation activities, which focus on cleaning up polluted sites.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 11.3%
This industry provides various services supporting transportation operations, including freight transportation arrangement, cargo handling, towing, vehicle maintenance, and more.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 11.2%
Hospitals, among other healthcare facilities, provide a wide range of medical services, including surgeries, emergency care, diagnostics, treatments, and ongoing patient care. They are critical components of the healthcare system.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
Expected Growth Rate: 11.1%
This industry includes outpatient healthcare services that do not require an overnight stay. It encompasses services like doctor’s offices, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, diagnostic centers, and other medical practices.
The best online programs in South Dakota for this industry include:
5.6% of degree holders in South Dakota are master’s degree holders.
The Higher Learning Commission is the regional accreditation for public and private schools in South Dakota.
An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree in South Dakota will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776.
An online master’s degree in South Dakota will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction.
But getting a master’s degree online from a college or university in South Dakota can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student in South Dakota, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.
Many online programs in South Dakota are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, online programs in South Dakota will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.
You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college in South Dakota, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
While some employers in South Dakota may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
The advantages that online colleges provide are many. First and foremost, online programs give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work.
In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities, which are online learning experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.
And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.
While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through online learning, some online learners may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to get the most out of your online college courses.
Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
Yes, financial aid is available as long as the online South Dakota schools are accredited. If so, prospective graduate students can apply for financial aid.
Graduate students should keep in mind that it is a good idea to apply for financial aid even if you think you will not need it. Changes in employment or circumstances could necessitate the need for aid in the future, so applying is always a good idea.
For more information about how to apply for financial aid, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
60%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1122/22
The University of South Dakota is among the top options for prospective online students living outside the state. Online students pay the same amount of tuition fee regardless if they are South Dakota residents or not.
In addition to its affordable cost, online learners can apply for some on-campus federal financial aid programs and avail of services like mental health assistance and career services.
The online graduate programs at USD are well-known thanks to their innovative approach to education and world-class faculty.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
60%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/23
South Dakota State University, a public, land-grant agricultural institution, is still the biggest university in the state. SDSU is a member of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, a group of 20 colleges in South Dakota that works together to offer online learning. This initiative allows students to enroll in online courses beyond the courses that South Dakota State University offers.
The university charges the same tuition to all online students.
As one of the best online schools in South Dakota, the online master’s degree programs at South Dakota State University require students to complete capstone projects. This final project typically consists of a thesis or research project.
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
71%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1222/25
Augustana University, a private college, is among the top higher learning institutions in South Dakota. 98% of the Class of 2020 graduates participated in experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, clinical, study abroad programs, and volunteer work. Most of these experiences occur during the one-month January term, which receives funding from the university of about $250,000.
While students can pursue over 100 majors and minors on campus, online programs are limited.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
42%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/21
Black Hills State University, originally a teacher’s college, offers online master’s degrees to equip online learners in South Dakota with the necessary skills and knowledge for specific education fields. The school uses the D2L system, a top learning management system, to provide high-quality online learning. Distance learners have access to job centers, counseling centers, academic advising centers, writing centers, services for people with disabilities, and libraries.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/26
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology has been a national innovator in producing elite scientists and engineers since 1885. SDSMT is one of the best online schools in South Dakota for graduate studies and research and development.
Graduates are highly regarded by their peers in business, consulting, government, health, research, and education leadership positions. They develop, build, and operate the most cutting-edge technology to address today’s complex challenges.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
47%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/22
Dakota State University was originally established to provide teacher training. Throughout the years, DSU has evolved into one of the most prominent state universities in South Dakota, providing numerous majors that meet the needs of today’s most challenging fields.
Dakota State University is renowned for being military-friendly and provides cheaper tuition for serving members pursuing an on-campus/online program. Online learners can use tools like online career services and telehealth to reach the counseling center from South Dakota.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
48%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/22
Northern State University is known for offering courses designed to prepare high school students for college education in South Dakota. In addition to this, NSU is also popular for offering online programs that provide online students with the same on-campus academic rigor and student services.
Students who are not residents of South Dakota earning their online degrees at Northern State University can expect to pay the same tuition as in-state students, thanks to NSU’s flat-rate tuition fee.
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
58%
Student body
2K
Students who want to enroll in a graduate program with a liberal arts curriculum in South Dakota should consider the online programs at the University of Sioux Falls. Intentionally integrating faith and online learning, committed teachers assist students in finding their career calling and equip them to serve God and humanity.
The university’s alumni uphold slogan of the University of Sioux Falls, which is “Culture for Service,” in their careers, families, and communities with a placement rate of 99%.
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
55%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/20
With one of the lowest student populations in South Dakota, Dakota Wesleyan is one of the best above-average private universities with fairly challenging admissions. The university affirms its affiliation with the United Methodist Church and fosters diversity in a friendly atmosphere.
All online programs at DWU offer three start dates throughout the year. Each online course is taught in an eight-week style.
Tuition + fees
$16K
Graduation
11%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$16K
Graduation
11%
Student body
1K
National American University, a known pioneer in online education in South Dakota, offers a variety of online programs, from certificate to undergraduate and graduate levels. Using D2L Brightspace, online students at NAU complete coursework in synchronous and asynchronous modalities.
With an open admissions policy, National American University is among the top preferred schools of students seeking an online school in South Dakota.