Best Political Science Schools Near Watertown, SD (2026)

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

Watertown, South Dakota has 5 accredited schools offering political science 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 political science-related role is Social and Community Service Managers at a median $86,870 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Political Science Schools to Watertown

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer political science programs near Watertown, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Watertown 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 Watertown. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

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

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#1

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 44.8 miles from Watertown
  • 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

#2

Dakota State University

Madison, SD 62.0 miles from Watertown
  • 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

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#3

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD 74.8 miles from Watertown
  • 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

#4

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD 97.9 miles from Watertown
  • 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

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#5

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 147.2 miles from Watertown
  • 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

#6

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD 331.0 miles from Watertown
  • 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

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

Political Science Wages Near Watertown

Occupation Median Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide)
Political Scientists N/A
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary $72,580
Management Analysts $83,620
Public Relations Specialists $64,520
Survey Researchers N/A
Paralegals and Legal Assistants $58,320
Compliance Officers $72,630
Social and Community Service Managers $86,870

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)

Other Watertown-Area Cities With Political Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited political science schools are near Watertown, SD?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering political science programs near Watertown. The closest is South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD (44.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Minnesota-Morris (77.0 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying political science roles in South Dakota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying political science-related roles in South Dakota are: Social and Community Service Managers ($86,870), Management Analysts ($83,620), Compliance Officers ($72,630). 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 political science 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 political science?

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 Political Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Watertown

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

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.

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