South Dakota Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
The information below serves as a guide for anyone interested in becoming a teacher in South Dakota. All teachers in the state must complete a teacher preparation program at an accredited school in order to become eligible for work in the state’s education system. Fortunately, there are several colleges and universities that offer teaching degrees in South Dakota. For useful information on the various options for aspiring teachers in the state, take a look at our lists of top-rated teaching programs, table of accredited, and state-approved teacher preparation programs below. For aspiring teachers looking for the right teaching school in South Dakota that meets their needs, this guide is a great place to start.
Table of Contents
- Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
- Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
- Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
Quick Facts
- There are 11 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in South Dakota.1
- 4 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.1
- 11 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.1
- 11 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.1
- No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.2
- 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.3
- 7 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.4
- 6 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.5
For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.
Comparison of South Dakota Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs
We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in South Dakota according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the South Dakota Department of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.
While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.
You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2019-2020 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our South Dakota traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.
Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?5 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment6 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers6 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate6 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment6 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers6 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate6 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana University | No | 143 | 33 | 100% | — | — | — | $24,322 |
| Black Hills State University | Yes | 311 | 120 | 98% | — | — | — | $16,706 |
| Dakota State University | Yes | 204 | 76 | 100% | — | — | — | $17,861 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | No | 48 | 22 | 95% | — | — | — | $19,377 |
| Mount Marty University | No | 44 | 22 | 100% | — | — | — | $18,924 |
| Northern State University | Yes | 438 | 61 | 96% | — | — | — | $16,404 |
| Oglala Lakota College | No | 52 | 13 | 83% | — | — | — | $2,068 |
| Sinte Gleska University | No | 70 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $9,010 |
| South Dakota State University | Yes | 770 | 125 | 89% | — | — | — | $17,894 |
| University of Sioux Falls | Yes | 135 | 47 | 100% | — | — | — | $21,824 |
| University of South Dakota | Yes | 315 | 129 | 98% | — | — | — | $18,480 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in South Dakota
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023
- University of South Dakota (#138 tie)
US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022
- University of South Dakota (#34 tie)
- Dakota Wesleyan University (#102 tie)
- Augustana University (#108 tie)
- Dakota State University (#130 tie)
- University of Sioux Falls (#130 tie)
- Black Hills State University (#210 tie)
- South Dakota State University (#242-321 tie)
Select South Dakota Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
South Dakota State University
Located in Brookings, South Dakota State University (SDSU) is home to the School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development. SDSU offers undergraduate degrees in the focal areas of Early Childhood Education and Secondary Education. Students may choose from a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education and Human Sciences in Early Childhood Education (with specializations in Birth-Age Eight or Cooperative Elementary Education) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or BS degree in their teaching subject area of choice, with a specialization in Secondary Education. These subject areas range from English, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences Education to Agricultural or Family & Consumer Sciences Education. SDSU offers three graduate programs: a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Administration, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Education.
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota’s (USD) School of Education serves undergraduate students through its Department of Teacher Residency & Education, and graduate students through its Departments of Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership. Undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) in Elementary or Secondary Education (with an optional double major in Special Education), and minors in American Indian Education and K-12 English as a New Language. Graduate programs include a Master of Arts (MA) in Elementary, Secondary, or Special Education with several concentration options in each, many of which can be completed online. There is also a fully online Master of Science (MS) in Technology for Education & Training. At the doctorate level, USD offers a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum & Instruction and one in Educational Administration and Leadership with specializations for aspiring Principals, Curriculum Directors, Superintendents, and Directors of Special Education.
Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
Black Hills State University*
1200 University St
Spearfish, SD 57799
(605) 642-6131
www.bhsu.edu
Mount Marty University*
1105 W 8th St
Yankton, SD 57078
(605) 668-1545
www.mountmarty.edu
Oglala Lakota College*
490 Piya Wiconi Rd
Kyle, SD 57752
(605) 455-6000
www.olc.edu
Sinte Gleska University*
101 Antelope Lake Cir
Mission, SD 57555
(605) 856-8100
www.sintegleska.edu
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2023: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx