Southwest Minnesota State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Social Work Programs in Watertown, SD (2026)
Watertown, South Dakota has 2 accredited schools offering social work 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 social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $93,760 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Social Work Schools to Watertown
The 2 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 2 schools in our directory that offer social work 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.
University of Sioux Falls
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota social work page.
Social Work Wages Near Watertown
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | $51,100 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $57,510 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $48,920 |
| Social Worker, All Other | $93,760 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $86,870 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $38,350 |
| Community Health Worker | $45,700 |
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 Social Work 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 social work schools are near Watertown, SD?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering social work programs near Watertown. The closest is Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN (75.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Sioux Falls (97.4 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying social work roles in South Dakota?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles in South Dakota are: Social Worker, All Other ($93,760), Social and Community Service Manager ($86,870), Healthcare Social Worker ($57,510). 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 social work 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 social work?
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 Social Work Programs
- Social Work accreditation: what to look for
- Social Work concentrations and specializations
- Is a Social Work degree worth it?
- Main Social Work degree guide
- Online Social Work programs in South Dakota
- Social Work programs by state
Other Programs Available in Watertown
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Watertown:
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- Nursing programs in Watertown, SD
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- Liberal Arts programs in Watertown, SD
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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.
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