South Dakota Social Work Degree Programs
AKA: ASW, BSW, MSW, DSW, Clinical MSW
Data Source:
Dept. of Education - 2026
Social Worker License has analyzed data from 9 schools who offer degree programs in the field of social work and human services. Jump to schools.
South Dakota students have more choices at the undergraduate level than at the graduate level. Four schools offer CSWE-accredited BSW programs, while MSW study is concentrated at Augustana University and University of South Dakota. No doctoral-level social work program is identified in the state.
The state also has programs in human services and mental or social health. These may support related career goals, but students should not treat them as social work degrees or assume that they meet the same educational requirements.
Students seeking an accredited social work pathway can compare four schools, all with BSW programs and two with MSW programs. Oglala Lakota College and University of Sioux Falls offer accredited undergraduate options, while Augustana University and University of South Dakota offer both BSW and MSW pathways.
CSWE programmatic accreditation applies to a particular social work program and is separate from a college or university’s institutional accreditation. Students should confirm each program’s current CSWE status and determine whether it aligns with their educational and licensing plans.
Students looking for flexibility have two schools with CSWE-accredited social work programs to investigate: Augustana University and University of South Dakota. Both have accredited BSW and MSW options and report some online availability, giving distance learners a small but meaningful set of formats to compare.
Online availability does not necessarily mean every degree, course, campus activity, or field placement can be completed remotely. Ask each school about synchronous sessions, residency requirements, local internship arrangements, and whether online access applies to the BSW, MSW, or both.
Cost-conscious students may want to start with the lower-price social work schools below, then request a program-specific estimate before applying. These figures are school-level prices rather than social work program-specific costs, and they should not be interpreted as measures of program quality.
In-state tuition and average net price answer different comparison questions, so students should review both. Actual expenses can vary by degree level, enrollment status, aid, fees, books, travel, and field placement requirements.
Students should begin with degree level and CSWE accreditation, then narrow their choices by format, schedule, location, field education, and total cost. MSW applicants have only two accredited schools to compare, making differences in study plans, specialization, and online delivery especially important.
Human services and mental or social health programs can be useful alternatives for adjacent career goals, but they are not interchangeable with BSW or MSW degrees. Compare curricula and intended career outcomes before choosing one of these related programs.
South Dakota has four schools with CSWE-accredited social work programs. All four offer an accredited BSW, while Augustana University and University of South Dakota also offer an accredited MSW.
Yes. Augustana University and University of South Dakota offer CSWE-accredited MSW programs. Both include advanced-standing plans, although eligibility and scheduling should be confirmed directly with each school.
Augustana University and University of South Dakota report some online availability. Confirm which degree options and courses are online, whether campus visits are required, and how field placements are completed.
Based on reported school-level figures, Oglala Lakota College, University of South Dakota, and University of Sioux Falls have the lowest listed in-state tuition among South Dakota social work schools. They also have the lowest listed average net prices in the same order. These figures are not social work program-specific costs.
No doctoral-level social work option is identified among the state’s schools. Students seeking doctoral study may need to consider programs outside South Dakota or other delivery arrangements.
Completing a listed program does not automatically guarantee licensure. Requirements vary, so students should verify current education, examination, supervised-experience, and application rules with the licensing authority where they intend to practice.
Whether you live in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen or elsewhere in South Dakota, you can find the right social work or human services degree program for you. Filter schools in South Dakota by degree level and field type. Rank schools by features that matter to you. Explore all the social work programs offered in South Dakota below.
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Public
Total Enrollment
1,097
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
8.16%
In-State Tuition:
$2,684
Out-of-State Tuition:
$2,684
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$1,895
Applicants Accepted:
Not enough data
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
N/A
Average SAT Math Score:
N/A
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Private nonprofit
Total Enrollment
82
Accredited By:
Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
Graduation Rate:
Not enough data
In-State Tuition:
$3,600
Out-of-State Tuition:
$3,600
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
Not enough data
Applicants Accepted:
84.62%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
N/A
Average SAT Math Score:
N/A
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program description:
A program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. Includes instruction in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Public
Total Enrollment
487
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
0%
In-State Tuition:
$4,714
Out-of-State Tuition:
$4,714
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$12,768
Applicants Accepted:
Not enough data
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
N/A
Average SAT Math Score:
N/A
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Public
Total Enrollment
1,273
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
60.26%
In-State Tuition:
$8,845
Out-of-State Tuition:
$11,947
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$15,812
Applicants Accepted:
93%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
565
Average SAT Math Score:
540
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Public
Total Enrollment
9,198
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
60.33%
In-State Tuition:
$9,299
Out-of-State Tuition:
$12,809
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$19,841
Applicants Accepted:
98.34%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
540
Average SAT Math Score:
560
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program description:
A program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. Includes instruction in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Public
Total Enrollment
5,439
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
57.59%
In-State Tuition:
$9,432
Out-of-State Tuition:
$12,942
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$19,858
Applicants Accepted:
98.78%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
575
Average SAT Math Score:
595
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Private nonprofit
Total Enrollment
1,218
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
58.58%
In-State Tuition:
$21,750
Out-of-State Tuition:
$21,750
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$21,383
Applicants Accepted:
82.89%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
N/A
Average SAT Math Score:
N/A
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program description:
A program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. Includes instruction in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Type of Institution
Private nonprofit
Total Enrollment
670
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
46.63%
In-State Tuition:
$33,790
Out-of-State Tuition:
$33,790
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$19,735
Applicants Accepted:
73.38%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
475
Average SAT Math Score:
505
Degree Levels Offered
Salary 1 Year After Graduation
Program fields may include:
Type of Institution
Private nonprofit
Total Enrollment
1,965
Accredited By:
Higher Learning Commission
Graduation Rate:
76.25%
In-State Tuition:
$40,160
Out-of-State Tuition:
$40,160
Average Cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses - minus grant/scholarship aid):
$23,894
Applicants Accepted:
67.75%
Average SAT Score:
N/A
Average SAT Reading Score:
565
Average SAT Math Score:
595
