Best Political Science Schools Near Rapid City, SD (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Rapid City, South Dakota has 1 accredited school offering political science 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 political science-related role is Management Analysts at a median $92,710 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Political Science Schools to Rapid City

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer political science 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.

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 Rapid City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

Sort:
#1

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD 43.5 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 44%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,674
Avg net price $15,911/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD 251.1 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,618
Avg net price $15,812/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#3

Dakota State University

Madison, SD 303.3 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,970
Avg net price $21,057/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 319.3 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
59.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,070
Avg net price $19,841/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad
#5

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD 325.4 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,217
Avg net price $23,894/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 328.0 miles from Rapid City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
52.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 99%
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,926
Avg net price $19,858/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,432
Out‑of‑state$12,942
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Sponsored Ad

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

Political Science 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)
Political Scientists N/A SD statewide –
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary $72,580 SD statewide $81,368
Management Analysts $92,710 Rapid City, SD $103,935
Public Relations Specialists $81,330 Rapid City, SD $91,177
Survey Researchers N/A SD statewide –
Paralegals and Legal Assistants $56,720 Rapid City, SD $63,587
Compliance Officers $75,160 Rapid City, SD $84,260
Social and Community Service Managers $83,550 Rapid City, SD $93,666

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 political science schools are near Rapid City, SD?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering political science programs near Rapid City. The closest is Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD (43.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Black Hills State University (43.5 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying political science roles near Rapid City?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying political science-related roles near Rapid City are: Management Analysts ($92,710), Social and Community Service Managers ($83,550), Public Relations Specialists ($81,330). 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 political science?

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 Political Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Rapid City

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

Data verified: September 5, 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.

Back to Best Political Science Schools in South Dakota (2026)