Best colleges for Human Services in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lake Area Technical College, University of South Dakota and Mitchell Technical College award the most Human Services degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 31, 12 and 8 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 South Dakota colleges offer Human Services and award 74 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Human Services program, also known as Human Services, General, is an interdisciplinary field focused on meeting human needs through a comprehensive understanding of social and service technologies. It aims to improve the quality of…
Top 2 institutions, 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 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public · Associate degree | $26,730 | 31 | 73% | — | $12,000 |
| 2 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public · Associate degree Small program | $35,070 | 8 | 76% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Services degrees in South Dakota
Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown Public | 31 | $26,730 |
| 2 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 3 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell Public | 8 | $35,070 |
ShowHide the other 1 South Dakota colleges offering Human Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinte Gleska University | Mission | Public | 23 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social and Human Service Assistants (SOC 21-1093).
Top skills
What Social and Human Service Assistants earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Services programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Human Services degrees?+
Lake Area Technical College (31 graduates a year), University of South Dakota (12 graduates a year) and Mitchell Technical College (8 graduates a year) award the most Human Services degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 South Dakota colleges offer Human Services.
Which Human Services program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lake Area Technical College tops the list at $26,730. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Social and Human Service Assistants earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in South Dakota is $39,110 (median $38,350), across about 830 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Human Services program?+
The Human Services program, also known as Human Services, General, is an interdisciplinary field focused on meeting human needs through a comprehensive understanding of social and service technologies. It aims to improve the quality of…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Social and Human Service Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +6.4% growth with around 50,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent 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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