2025 Best MBA Programs in South Dakota

University of South Dakota

Beacom School of Business

Location:

• Vermillion

,

• SD

Control: Public

Academic Year: Semester

Accredited: AACSB

Accreditation: Business

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• Tuition: $14,892
• Graduate Salary: $47,553
• Graduate ROI: 219%
• GMAT Required: No
• Avg. GMAT: 540
• Student / Faculty Ratio: 18:1
• Business School Enrollment: 1,366

Degree Level(s):

• Master
• ·
• MBA
• ·
• Undergraduate

Offered As:

• 1-Year
• ·
• Campus
• ·
• Distance Education
• ·
• Evenings
• ·
• Full-Time
• ·
• Off Campus
• ·
• Online
• ·
• Part-Time
• ·
• Weekends

• Concentrations: 18

• Accounting
• Corporate Finance
• Data Analytics
• E-Commerce
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• General Business
• Healthcare Administration
• Human Resources
• Insurance
• Leadership
• Management
• Marketing
• Other
• Quantitative Methods
• Science and Technology
• Supply Chain

• Rankings

• City Rank: 1
• State Rank: 1
• National Rank: 382
• Online Rank: 281

Black Hills State University

College of Business and Natural Sciences

Location:

• Spearfish

,

• SD

Control: Public

Academic Year: Semester

Accredited: AACSB

Accreditation: Business

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• Tuition: $14,114
• Graduate Salary: $52,650
• Graduate ROI: 273%
• GMAT Required: Yes
• Avg. GMAT: 544
• Student / Faculty Ratio: 12:1
• Business School Enrollment: 396

Degree Level(s):

• MBA
• ·
• Undergraduate

Offered As:

• Campus
• ·
• Full-Time
• ·
• Off Campus
• ·
• Online
• ·
• Part-Time

• Concentrations: 6

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• General Business
• Human Resources
• Information Systems
• Management

• Rankings

• City Rank: 1
• State Rank: 2
• National Rank: 447
• Online Rank: 333

Dakota State University

School of Business

Location:

• Madison

,

• SD

Accredited:

Degree Level(s):

Offered As:

• Concentrations: 1

• International Business

• Rankings

• City Rank: 3
• State Rank: 3
• National Rank: 827

University of Sioux Falls

University of Sioux Falls - Vucurevich School of Business

Location:

,

• SD

Accredited:

Degree Level(s):

Offered As:

• Concentrations: 3

• Accounting
• Finance
• Marketing

• Rankings

• City Rank: 131
• State Rank: 4
• National Rank: 828

Compare MBA Program Averages in 2025
South Dakota, the U.S. and Online

What is the Average Tuition for MBA Programs in South Dakota?

If you plan on attending an MBA program, it’s best to start thinking about fiscal responsibility. A prospective B-Student needs to weigh their tuition options. An AACSB-accredited MBA program can pave the way for a great starting salary or career advancement. An online MBA program can provide the flexibility of completing a program while being employed in your respective career.

While the average in-person MBA program in South Dakota will cost about $14,503, the least expensive MBA program is $14,114 from Black Hills State University, and the most expensive is $14,892 from University of South Dakota.

An Online MBA program from an institution in South Dakota will cost you between $14,114 from Black Hills State University and $14,892 from University of South Dakota. The average cost of online MBA programs within South Dakota is $14,503.

Average Tuition for In-Person MBA Programs

Average: $14,503 from South Dakota’s 2 in-person MBA Programs
Lowest in-person: $14,114 from Black Hills State University
Highest in-person: $14,892 from University of South Dakota

What is the Average Graduate MBA Salary in South Dakota?

While the average starting salary for graduates of an in-person MBA program in South Dakota is about $50,102, the lowest average MBA starting salary is $47,553 from University of South Dakota, and the highest average MBA starting salary is $52,650 from Black Hills State University.

The average starting salary for graduates of an Online MBA program from an institution in South Dakota is between $47,553 from University of South Dakota and $52,650 from Black Hills State University. The average starting MBA salary for graduates of online MBA programs within South Dakota is $50,102.

Average Graduate Salaries for In-Person MBA Programs

• Average: $50,102 from South Dakota’s 2 In-Person MBA Programs
• Lowest In-Person: $47,553 from University of South Dakota
• Highest In-Person:$52,650 from Black Hills State University

What is the Average ROI for MBA Programs in South Dakota?

Choosing an MBA program requires more than a glance at the school’s reputation or curriculum. The return on investment (ROI) should take center stage in your evaluation. This measurement reveals the potential value derived from your tuition investment, putting key factors such as starting salary and career progression under the microscope.

By scrutinizing the ROI, you’re not just making a decision—you’re making an informed one. This approach will ensure the selection of an MBA program that provides the most bang for your buck. Checking the ROI might not be an afterthought; it could be the game-changer in your MBA journey.

While the average in-person MBA program ROI from South Dakota is 246%, the lowest ROI is 219% from University of South Dakota, and the best ROI is 273% from Black Hills State University.

The ROI from Online MBA programs in South Dakota range between 219% from University of South Dakota and 273% from Black Hills State University. The average ROI of online MBA programs within South Dakota is 246%.

In-Person ROI for MBA Programs

• Average: 246% from South Dakota’s 2 in-person MBA Programs
• Lowest in-person: 219% from University of South Dakota
• Highest in-person: 273% from Black Hills State University

What is the Average GMAT Score Needed for an MBA Program in South Dakota?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized examination used by MBA schools to assess their applicant pool. The test is strategically designed to measure an applicant’s analytical, verbal, writing and mathematical skills. The GMAT is used as a predictor of success in MBA programs and tests one’s ability to successfully handle the advanced quantitative and qualitative study of business and management.

While the average GMAT score needed for in-person MBA program in South Dakota is 542, the lowest average GMAT score is for an MBA program is 540 from University of South Dakota, and the highest GMAT score needed is 544 from Black Hills State University.

The average GMAT score needed for an online MBA program from an institution in South Dakota is between 540 from University of South Dakota to 544 from Black Hills State University. The average GMAT scored for online MBA programs within South Dakota is 542.

Average GMAT Score for In-Person MBA Programs

• Average: 542 from South Dakota’s 2 in-person MBA Programs
• Lowest in-person: 540 from University of South Dakota
• Highest in-person: 544 from Black Hills State University

No GMAT or GRE – Best MBA Programs in South Dakota

MBA Schools with the Most Alumni South Dakota?

The importance of networking, whether it’s by way of campus job fairs, student organization members, or faculty mentorship, should not be understated. The average MBA enrollment size has a direct impact on your studies, your job prospects, and your ability to define your career goals.

Every B-School has a strategy behind their enrollment sizes. If a prospective B-Student is looking for networking opportunities, wants to attend job fairs, and plans on joining student organizations, B-School enrollment size plays an important role in the decision making process. For the B-Student interested in the smaller cohort-style classroom experience and thrive with face-to-face collaboration with their professors, a manageable enrollment size is the preferred option.

For South Dakota state’s MBA programs, the range for full-time enrollment is between 2 and 125. For part-time enrollment, the range is between : 17.00 and : 242.00.

Average Enrollment for In-Person MBA Programs

• Lowest: 2 from Black Hills State University
• Highest: 125 from University of South Dakota
• Average: 64 from South Dakota’s 2 MBA Programs.
• Average: 296 from 511 the nation’s campus MBA Programs.

What MBA Concentrations Available in South Dakota?

Highly competitive B-Schools recruit part-time and full-time professors that are both academic and industry influencers. They are the subject matter experts in their respective concentrations. To meet the diverse needs of South Dakota businesses, MBA programs here have risen to the challenge by offering you an array of more than 19 MBA concentrations including:

• Accounting: 2
• Entrepreneurship: 2
• Management: 2
• General Business: 2
• Human Resources: 2
• Economics: 1
• Finance: 1
• E-Commerce: 1
• Healthcare Administration: 1
• Corporate Finance: 1

What Schools Offer the Widest Variety of MBA Concentrations in South Dakota?

• University of South Dakota: 18
• Black Hills State University: 6

Cities Offering MBA Programs in South Dakota

Looking for a particular city in South Dakota with an accredited MBA program? Research and compare MBA programs from other cities in South Dakota. Find online programs, programs by concentration, by average GMAT score and more.

• Spearfish
• Vermillion

The Importance of MBA Accreditation

The importance of accreditation can’t be underestimated. For many, knowing your school is accredited by the AACSB and regionally accredited by the US Department of Education is enough assurance that you will receive a quality education, where credits are more likely to transfer, and you will be qualified for loans, grants, and scholarships.

AACSB accreditation is considered to be the gold standard in business school credentialing. Established to promote high-quality business education in the U.S., AACSB members developed a stringent accreditation process. Members are held accountable for following an established business education framework set forth by the AACSB. With that comes MBA degrees conferrals that are widely recognized by Fortune 500 companies. This results in lucrative job opportunities.

MBA Program Options Available in South Dakota

Options for earning your MBA in South Dakota have never been more flexible. South Dakota MBA programs have become adept at offering effective alternatives for you to earn your MBA, no matter your life situation or schedule.

South Dakota has 2 Accredited MBA programs. 0 private and 2 public schools offering MBA programs.

South Dakota has 2 public schools and 0 private schools offering MBA degree programs.

2 Accredited MBA programs.  and 2 public schools offering MBA programs.

South Dakota schools offer 9 different paths to earn your MBA in South Dakota including Campus, Full-Time, Off Campus, Online, Part-Time, 1-Year, Distance Education, Evenings and Weekends.

To meet the diverse needs of South Dakota businesses, MBA programs here have risen to the challenge by offering you an array of more than 19 MBA concentrations to specialize in.

Awards for MBA Programs in South Dakota

The ranking of MBA programs is certainly not an exact science and plenty of subjective reasoning and biases come into play. We offer insights into ranking as another way to evaluate a potential MBA program.

Of the 2 accredited MBA programs offered in South Dakota, 2 of them have been recognized by at least one distinguished publication (MBAGuide) garnering an award as one of the best MBA programs in the country.

South Dakota schools have earned a total of 2 Best MBA awards from publications. Here are the top MBA schools and the number of awards the each program has garnered:

• Black Hills State University: 1
• University of South Dakota: 1

Publications and the number of awards granted for South Dakota schools:

• MBAGuide: 2

How We Rank the Best MBA Programs in South Dakota

MBAGuide.org employs a comprehensive ranking methodology that combines quantitative data (80% of the score) with qualitative assessments (20%) to evaluate MBA programs. The quantitative component considers factors such as student-faculty ratio, tuition, enrollment, and post-graduation salaries, while the qualitative aspect incorporates editorial ratings and school reputation, providing a well-rounded view of each program’s quality and value.

Data sources: IPEDS, National Center of Educational Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (ERIC), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), 520 MBA Schools, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you notice errors in the MBA program database, please contact us.

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