Best Online Colleges in South Dakota

Set on a 274-acre campus in the southwestern South Dakota community of Vermillion, the University of South Dakota enrolls more than 10,000 students. The state's oldest public university offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and nearly 80 graduate programs, including a variety of online degrees and certificates.

USD's business school offers an online bachelor's degree as well as an online MBA with five areas of specialization, including business analytics and health services administration. Other bachelor's degrees available online include criminal justice, addiction studies, health sciences, dental hygiene, and nursing. In addition to its MBA, USD offers 11 master's programs online, such as educational administration, social work, and public health. The school also offers a Ph.D. in health sciences online.

Online tuition rates at USD are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. Undergraduates may apply using the Common Application. USD offers writing assistance to online students through an online writing center.

With origins as a public, land-grant agricultural college, South Dakota State University remains the state's largest university, serving more than 11,000 students. SDSU offers four associate degrees and nine bachelor's degrees online. In addition to general studies, areas of study available to online undergraduates include geography, human development, nursing, and psychology. Undergraduates may also select from minors, such as criminal justice and mental health services.

SDSU also offers 16 master's degrees online, including agricultural education and merchandising. Online graduate degrees at SDSU typically include capstone options, such as a thesis or research project.

SDSU belongs to the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance -- a partnership of 20 universities that collaborate to provide distance education. SDSU students may enroll in classes provided through this partnership while paying SDSU's tuition rate. All distance learners at the university pay the same tuition.

Located in Madison, Dakota State University opened in 1881 to provide teacher training. Today, the public school enrolls nearly 3,400 students.

Access to DSU's online programs may not be available to students in all states. DSU offers six associate degrees, 14 bachelor's degrees, seven master's degrees, and three doctorates online to South Dakota residents, as well as a variety of undergraduate and graduate certificates. Undergraduate online programs include accounting, computer science, elementary education, and health information administration. DSU does require proctored exams for online classes.

Military students may qualify for discounted tuition. Transfer students with at least 24 credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA may apply. Students with fewer than 24 credits must meet DSU's first-year application requirements.

Founded in 1901 in Aberdeen, Northern State University offers distance education classes to high school students across the state. A public institution, NSU enrolls nearly 3,500 students in 59 majors and six pre-professional programs.

NSU offers an online bachelor's in banking and financial services that includes a paid internship, as well as a bachelor's in Spanish with a four-week study abroad opportunity. Online graduate programs at NSU include a 36-credit master's in banking and financial services. Educators may select from online master's degrees in leadership and administration, music education, and teaching and learning. The music education program includes one-week summer residencies on campus.

Online students at NSU may access many of the same services available to on-campus learners, including tutoring, writing assistance, disability services, and health services.

Black Hills State University opened as a teachers college in 1883. A public university with locations in Spearfish and Rapid City, BHSU currently oversees 80 degree programs and educates nearly 4,000 students through its three colleges.

BHSU offers an online bachelor's degree in business administration with a general studies track and a specialization option in management. General studies students must take a capstone course and complete 15 credits in three areas of emphasis.

BHSU also offers online master's degrees in sustainability, strategic leadership, curriculum and instruction, secondary education, and reading. The strategic leadership program uses an executive cohort model. The one- or two-year secondary education degree prepares graduates for teacher certification, combining distance learning with two practica and a stint of student teaching.

Admission requirements vary by program. First-year applicants must possess a minimum 2.6 GPA, a score of at least 18 or 970 on the ACT or SAT, or rank in the top 60% of their high school class. Online students may access support services, including library services, technical support, and advising.