Best Online Accounting Programs in Watertown, SD (2026)

Updated June 11, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Watertown, South Dakota has 3 accredited schools offering accounting programs, with tuition ranging from $9,633 to $24,447 per year for indexed programs. Watertown has a population of about 22,859. Median household income is $62,721 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Dakota, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $159,700 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Accounting Schools to Watertown

The 3 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 3 schools in our directory that offer accounting programs near Watertown. Distances are calculated from Watertown city center.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Watertown. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Dakota State University

Madison, SD 62.0 miles from Watertown BOC Score43.5
Published tuition$9,633 - $24,447
Online programsYes

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#2

Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Granite Falls, MN 78.2 miles from Watertown BOC Score58.5
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

#3

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD 94.5 miles from Watertown BOC Score69.7
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota accounting page.

Accounting Wages Near Watertown

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide)
Accountant and Auditor$78,880
Financial Manager$159,700
Financial Analyst$99,150
Budget Analyst$79,180
Tax Preparer$52,530
Tax Examiner and Collector$63,790
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$46,340

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Watertown at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population22,859Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$62,721Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Accounting-related employment in Codington County113 workers, 25 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Watertown-Area Cities With Accounting Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited accounting schools are near Watertown, SD?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering accounting programs near Watertown. The closest is Dakota State University in Madison, SD (62.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southeast Technical College (94.5 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying accounting roles in South Dakota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles in South Dakota are: Financial Manager ($159,700), Financial Analyst ($99,150), Budget Analyst ($79,180). Wages for Watertown workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Brookings instead of Watertown?

Brookings, SD is 45.7 miles from Watertown and has its own set of local accounting programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Watertown an affordable place to study accounting?

Watertown’s median household income of $62,721 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Watertown while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Dakota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Accounting Programs

Other Programs Available in Watertown

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Watertown:

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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