Best colleges for Psychology in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Augustana University, Black Hills State University and South Dakota State University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. Augustana University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,098, College Scorecard. University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and University of Sioux Falls award the most Psychology degrees in South Dakota: 78, 59 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 South Dakota colleges offer Psychology and award 245 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
Top 5 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 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,098 | 23 | 73% | $23,011 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,996 | 23 | 43% | — | $27,187 |
| 3 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,425 | 59 | 62% | — | $25,608 |
| 4 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,696 | 78 | 60% | — | $24,593 |
| 5 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,241 | 36 | 63% | $19,439 | $24,856 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology degrees in South Dakota
Top 8 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 | 78 | $31,696 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public | 59 | $35,425 |
| 3 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 36 | $27,241 |
| 4 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 23 | $39,098 |
| 5 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public | 23 | $35,996 |
| 6 | Northern State University Aberdeen Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 7 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 8 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
University of South Dakota (78 graduates a year), South Dakota State University (59 graduates a year) and University of Sioux Falls (36 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 South Dakota colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in South Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, Augustana University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,098, College Scorecard. Black Hills State University and South Dakota State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Dakota is the largest, with 78 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Augustana University tops the list at $39,098. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in South Dakota is $88,560 (median $80,130), across about 120 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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