South Dakota · Marketing

Best colleges for Marketing in South Dakota

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of South Dakota, Southeast Technical College and Lake Area Technical College are the top Marketing programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. University of South Dakota leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,060, College Scorecard. Lake Area Technical College, University of South Dakota and Southeast Technical College award the most Marketing degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 48, 40 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 South Dakota colleges offer Marketing and award 145 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Marketing program focuses on the principles and practices involved in promoting products and services. It is designed for students interested in understanding market dynamics, consumer behavior, and strategic communication. This…

Institutions
6
offering CIP 52.14
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
145
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,617
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,011
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
61%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Marketing Managers
$172,390
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,0604060%—$26,000
2Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls Public · Associate degree
$39,6172859%—$16,500
3Lake Area Technical College
Watertown Public · Associate degree
$32,0434873%—$14,250
4Northern State University
Aberdeen Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$45,891949%—$26,000

Colleges awarding the most Marketing degrees in South Dakota

Top 6 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Lake Area Technical College
Watertown Public
48$32,043
2University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public
40$48,060
3Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls Public
28$39,617
4Augustana University
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit
16Not reported
5Northern State University
Aberdeen Public
9$45,891
6Western Dakota Technical College
Rapid City Public
4Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Marketing Managers (SOC 11-2021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+6.6%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~34,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$161,030
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive LearningMonitoring

What Marketing Managers earn in South Dakota

Jobs in South Dakota
220
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$172,390
median $167,750
Best-paying metro
$158,260
Sioux Falls, SD-MN

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$73,980 avg · 1,530 jobs
Sales Managers
$141,590 avg · 450 jobs
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
$83,150 avg · 260 jobs
Marketing Managers
$172,390 avg · 220 jobs
Fundraisers
$75,190 avg · 80 jobs
Web and Digital Interface Designers
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Marketing programs in South Dakota.

Which South Dakota colleges award the most Marketing degrees?+

Lake Area Technical College (48 graduates a year), University of South Dakota (40 graduates a year) and Southeast Technical College (28 graduates a year) award the most Marketing degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 South Dakota colleges offer Marketing.

What is the best college for Marketing in South Dakota?+

By graduate earnings, University of South Dakota leads among Marketing programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,060, College Scorecard. Southeast Technical College and Lake Area Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, Lake Area Technical College is the largest, with 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Marketing 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 $48,060. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Marketing Managers earn in South Dakota?+

The average annual wage for Marketing Managers in South Dakota is $172,390 (median $167,750), across about 220 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Marketing program?+

The Marketing program focuses on the principles and practices involved in promoting products and services. It is designed for students interested in understanding market dynamics, consumer behavior, and strategic communication. This…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Marketing Managers?+

The national job outlook is about +6.6% growth with around 34,300 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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