Dakota State University
Published tuition$9,633 - $24,447
Online programsYes
Best Online Education Programs in Watertown, SD (2026)
Watertown, South Dakota has 1 accredited school offering education 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 education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $126,160 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Education Schools to Watertown
The 1 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 1 schools in our directory that offer education 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.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota education page.
Education Wages Near Watertown
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $51,050 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $50,130 |
| Middle School Teacher | $50,980 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $63,350 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $88,390 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $126,160 |
| Tutor | $38,760 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $51,830 |
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
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,859 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,721 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Education-related employment in Codington County | 69 workers, 9 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Watertown-Area Cities With Education 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 education schools are near Watertown, SD?
Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering education programs near Watertown. The closest is Dakota State University in Madison, SD (62.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Dakota State University (62.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles in South Dakota?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying education-related roles in South Dakota are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($126,160), Education Administrator, K-12 ($88,390), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($63,350). 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 education 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 education?
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 Education Programs
- Education accreditation: what to look for
- Education concentrations and specializations
- Is a Education degree worth it?
- Main Education degree guide
- Online Education programs in South Dakota
- Education programs by state
Other Programs Available in Watertown
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Watertown:
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Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
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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