South Dakota · Sociology

Best colleges for Sociology in South Dakota

Ranked by graduate earnings

Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota award the most Sociology degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 14, 12 and 6 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 South Dakota colleges offer Sociology and award 44 degrees and certificates a year in all.

Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…

Institutions
6
offering CIP 45.11
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
44
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$40,236
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,011
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
58%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sociologists
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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
1South Dakota State University
Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$40,2361262%—$26,000

Colleges awarding the most Sociology 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)
1Black Hills State University
Spearfish Public
14Not reported
2South Dakota State University
Brookings Public
12$40,236
3University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public
6Not reported
4Augustana University
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit
5Not reported
5Northern State University
Aberdeen Public
5Not reported
6University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit
2Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,690
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningWritingActive LearningReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking

What Sociologists earn in South Dakota

Jobs in South Dakota
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
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Related careers

Social Science Research Assistants
$41,910 avg · 40 jobs
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
$71,260 avg · 40 jobs
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other
—
Sociologists
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Sociology programs in South Dakota.

Which South Dakota colleges award the most Sociology degrees?+

Black Hills State University (14 graduates a year), South Dakota State University (12 graduates a year) and University of South Dakota (6 graduates a year) award the most Sociology degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 South Dakota colleges offer Sociology.

What is the focus of the Sociology program?+

Sociology is the scientific study of human society, focusing on social behavior, relationships, and cultural aspects of everyday life. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of social interactions…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+

The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master'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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