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Best Online Communications Programs in Rapid City, SD (2026)
Rapid City, South Dakota has 2 accredited schools offering communications programs. Rapid City has a population of about 76,836. Median household income is $65,712 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Rapid City, SD metro area, the top-earning communications-related role is Public Relations Specialist at a median $81,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Communications Schools to Rapid City
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer communications programs near Rapid City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Rapid City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota communications page.
Communications Wages Near Rapid City
Rapid City is part of the Rapid City, SD metro area (BLS area code 39660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Dakota statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $81,330 | Rapid City, SD | $91,177 |
| Public Relations Manager | N/A | SD statewide | – |
| News Analyst, Reporter and Journalist | $45,230 | Rapid City, SD | $50,706 |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $61,700 | Rapid City, SD | $69,170 |
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.
Rapid City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,836 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,712 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited communications schools are near Rapid City, SD?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering communications programs near Rapid City. The closest is Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD (43.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Chadron State College (87.4 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying communications roles near Rapid City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying communications-related roles near Rapid City are: Public Relations Specialist ($81,330), Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist ($61,700), News Analyst, Reporter and Journalist ($45,230). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Dakota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Is Rapid City an affordable place to study communications?
Rapid City’s median household income of $65,712 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rapid City 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 Communications Programs
- Is a Communications degree worth it?
- Main Communications degree guide
- Online Communications programs in South Dakota
- Communications programs by state
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Data verified: August 10, 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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