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Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota

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2023 Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota

13 Schools Ranked
$42,570 Average Earnings
$27,747 Avg Student Debt

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 13 schools in South Dakota to see which ones had the most popular online programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#2

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota
598 Total Awards
$49,355 Average Earnings
$28,216 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Dakota State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota list. Dakota State is a public institution located in Madison, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 598 degrees in 2020-2021.

Degree recipients from Dakota State accumulate an average of $28,216 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Dakota State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,355 during the early year of their career. Around 30% of those degree recipients were women.

Read full report on Dakota State University

#3

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
878 Total Awards
$39,912 Average Earnings
$20,379 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Southeast Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota list. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 878 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

Degree recipients from Southeast Tech accumulate an average of $20,379 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Southeast Tech graduates make an average of $39,912 annually. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#4

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
2,185 Total Awards
$48,161 Average Earnings
$26,040 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 13 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Dakota landed the # 4 spot on the list. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,185 degrees to qualified students.

Degree recipients from USD accumulate an average of $26,040 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $156.After graduating from USD, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,161 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.

Full University of South Dakota Report

#5

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota
382 Total Awards
$38,422 Average Earnings
$28,374 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Northern State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota list. NSU is a public institution located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 382 degrees in 2020-2021.

Degree recipients from NSU accumulate an average of $28,374 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NSU graduates make an average of $38,422 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Northern State University Report

#6

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Rapid City, South Dakota
424 Total Awards
$37,539 Average Earnings
$19,757 Avg Student Debt

Western Dakota Technical Institute landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Western Dakota Tech is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 424 degrees to qualified students.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,757 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Western Dakota Tech graduates make an average of $37,539 annually. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Western Dakota Technical Institute Report

#7

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota
864 Total Awards
$36,525 Average Earnings
$16,395 Avg Student Debt

Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 864 degrees in 2020-2021.

On average, students take out $16,395 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $115.After graduating from LATI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,525 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.

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#8

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
585 Total Awards
$34,476 Average Earnings
$24,854 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #8, Black Hills State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. BHSU is located in Spearfish, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 585 degrees to qualified students.

Degree recipients from BHSU accumulate an average of $24,854 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, BHSU graduates make an average of $34,476 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Black Hills State University Report

#9

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, South Dakota
474 Total Awards
$40,678 Average Earnings
$14,782 Avg Student Debt

Mitchell Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 474 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

On average, students take out $14,782 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $156.After graduating from Mitchell Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,678 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 28% were women.

Read full report on Mitchell Technical College

#10

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, South Dakota
225 Total Awards
$50,275 Average Earnings
$30,274 Avg Student Debt

Dakota Wesleyan University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Dakota Wesleyan University is located in Mitchell, South Dakota and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 225 degrees to qualified students.

On average, students take out $30,274 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Dakota Wesleyan University graduates make an average of $50,275 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.

Read full report on Dakota Wesleyan University

#11

Sioux Falls Seminary

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
54 Total Awards

Sioux Falls Seminary did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #11 on the list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 54 degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.

Read More…

#12

Institute of Lutheran Theology

Brookings, South Dakota
10 Total Awards

Institute of Lutheran Theology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota ranking. Institute of Lutheran Theology is a popular private not-for-profit school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 10 degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 30% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#13

Presentation College

Aberdeen, South Dakota
173 Total Awards
$51,279 Average Earnings
$43,547 Avg Student Debt

Presentation College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in South Dakota list. Located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 173 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $43,547 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Presentation College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,279 during the early year of their career. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

Most Popular Online Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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