Best Online Master’s Programs in South Dakota 2023

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

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.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in South Dakota

University of South Dakota

44%

South Dakota State University

37%

Augustana University

27%

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

24%

Black Hills State University

24%

Dakota Wesleyan University

24%

National American University

23%

University of Sioux Falls

22%

Northern State University

21%

Dakota State University

20%

Black Hills State University

97%

South Dakota State University

87%

University of South Dakota

87%

Dakota State University

86%

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

80%

Northern State University

80%

University of Sioux Falls

77%

Dakota Wesleyan University

76%

Augustana University

72%

Dakota State University

18 to 1

Northern State University

18 to 1

University of Sioux Falls

17 to 1

South Dakota State University

17 to 1

Black Hills State University

16 to 1

University of South Dakota

15 to 1

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

13 to 1

Dakota Wesleyan University

12 to 1

Augustana University

12 to 1

National American University

7 to 1

Augustana University

$35,914

Dakota Wesleyan University

$30,880

University of Sioux Falls

$19,900

National American University

$15,660

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

$7,820

University of South Dakota

$7,773

South Dakota State University

$7,773

Black Hills State University

$7,616

Dakota State University

$7,616

Northern State University

$7,616

Augustana University

$35,716

Dakota Wesleyan University

$15,300

National American University

$15,000

South Dakota State University

$8,164

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

$8,134

Black Hills State University

$7,998

University of Sioux Falls

$7,110

University of South Dakota

$6,123

Dakota State University

$5,999

Northern State University

$5,999

Dakota State University

20%

Northern State University

21%

University of Sioux Falls

22%

National American University

23%

Dakota Wesleyan University

24%

Black Hills State University

24%

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

24%

Augustana University

27%

South Dakota State University

37%

University of South Dakota

44%

Augustana University

72%

Dakota Wesleyan University

76%

University of Sioux Falls

77%

Northern State University

80%

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

80%

Dakota State University

86%

University of South Dakota

87%

South Dakota State University

87%

Black Hills State University

97%

National American University

7 to 1

Dakota Wesleyan University

12 to 1

Augustana University

12 to 1

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

13 to 1

University of South Dakota

15 to 1

Black Hills State University

16 to 1

University of Sioux Falls

17 to 1

South Dakota State University

17 to 1

Dakota State University

18 to 1

Northern State University

18 to 1

Black Hills State University

$7,616

Dakota State University

$7,616

Northern State University

$7,616

University of South Dakota

$7,773

South Dakota State University

$7,773

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

$7,820

National American University

$15,660

University of Sioux Falls

$19,900

Dakota Wesleyan University

$30,880

Augustana University

$35,914

Dakota State University

$5,999

Northern State University

$5,999

University of South Dakota

$6,123

University of Sioux Falls

$7,110

Black Hills State University

$7,998

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

$8,134

South Dakota State University

$8,164

National American University

$15,000

Dakota Wesleyan University

$15,300

Augustana University

$35,716

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in South Dakota

Almost 20 higher education institutions award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the state, 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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

With a comparable tuition, the University of South Dakota is the second largest and located in Vermillion. Students can earn degrees in areas such as earth science, physics, and engineering. Eight private schools 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, 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: 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.

What are South Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

South Dakota’s Best Overall

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree 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 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 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, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs 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, the medium 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, 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 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 of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses 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-educational 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 the online medium, some students 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 the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine South Dakota's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Programs in South Dakota 2023

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in South Dakota

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in South Dakota

What are South Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

South Dakota’s Best Overall

Best Online Master’s Program in South Dakota 2022

University of South Dakota

Online Master's Degrees

South Dakota State University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Augustana University

Online Master's Degrees

Black Hills State University

Online Master's Degrees

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Online Master's Degrees

Dakota State University

Online Master's Degrees

Northern State University

Online Master's Degrees

University of Sioux Falls

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Dakota Wesleyan University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

National American University

Online Master's Degrees

South Dakota’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest