Best colleges for Business Administration in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of South Dakota, Black Hills State University and Dakota State University are the top bachelor's Business Administration programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. University of South Dakota leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,107, College Scorecard. University of South Dakota, University of Sioux Falls and Black Hills State University award the most Business Administration degrees in South Dakota: 201, 122 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 South Dakota colleges offer Business Administration and award 969 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,107 | 201 | 60% | — | $22,950 |
| 2 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,682 | 79 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Dakota State University Madison Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,748 | 41 | 51% | — | $30,625 |
| 4 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,301 | 122 | 63% | $19,439 | $24,750 |
| 5 | Northern State University Aberdeen Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,667 | 22 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,625 | 31 | 52% | $22,972 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,516 | 17 | 73% | $23,011 | $25,112 |
| 8 | National American University - Rapid City Rapid City Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $48,827 | 95 | 0% | $22,086 | $46,575 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Dakota Technical College Rapid City Public · Associate degree Small program | $24,503 | 10 | 54% | — | $22,017 |
Colleges awarding the most Business Administration degrees in South Dakota
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public | 201 | $47,107 |
| 2 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 122 | $44,301 |
| 3 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public | 79 | $45,682 |
| 4 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit | 70 | Not reported |
| 5 | Dakota State University Madison Public | 41 | $44,748 |
| 6 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit | 31 | $39,625 |
| 7 | Northern State University Aberdeen Public | 22 | $43,667 |
| 8 | Kairos University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 17 | $50,516 |
| 10 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 South Dakota colleges offering Business Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Intercontinental University (Online) | Sioux Falls | Private for-profit | 183 |
| National American University - Rapid City (Online) | Rapid City | Private for-profit | 95 |
| Oglala Lakota College | Kyle | Public | 32 |
| Sinte Gleska University | Mission | Public | 13 |
| Western Dakota Technical College | Rapid City | Public | 10 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City | Public | 8 |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | Sisseton | Public | 8 |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business Administration programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Business Administration degrees?+
University of South Dakota (201 graduates a year), University of Sioux Falls (122 graduates a year) and Black Hills State University (79 graduates a year) award the most Business Administration degrees in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 South Dakota colleges offer Business Administration.
What is the best college for Business Administration in South Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, University of South Dakota leads among bachelor's Business Administration programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,107, College Scorecard. Black Hills State University and Dakota State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Dakota is the largest, with 201 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business Administration program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Dakota tops the list at $47,107. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in South Dakota is $153,020 (median $137,400), across about 4,280 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business Administration program?+
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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