Best Online Counseling Programs in Watertown, SD (2026)

Watertown, South Dakota has 4 accredited schools offering counseling 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 counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $86,870 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Counseling Schools to Watertown

The 4 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 4 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Watertown. Distances are calculated from Watertown city center.

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

Counseling Wages Near Watertown

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

Other Watertown-Area Cities With Counseling Programs

• Brookings, SD – 45.7 mi away (24,357 pop)
• Aberdeen, SD – 74.6 mi away (28,291 pop)
• Sioux Falls, SD – 97.0 mi away (177,629 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Watertown, SD?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Watertown. The closest is South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD (44.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Kairos University (97.8 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in South Dakota are: Social and Community Service Manager ($86,870), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($53,650), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($51,830). 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 counseling 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 counseling?

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 Counseling Programs

• Counseling accreditation: what to look for
• Counseling concentrations and specializations
• Is a Counseling degree worth it?
• Main Counseling degree guide
• Online Counseling programs in South Dakota
• Counseling programs by state

Other Programs Available in Watertown

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

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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.