2026 Best Political Science & Government Schools in South Dakota

Political Science & Government is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for political science & government students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Political Science & Government Schools in South Dakota

ADVERTISEMENTS

Featured Political Science & Government Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Political Science

Gain a solid understanding of American political history, the current political landscape, and the major political parties with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Learn More

Visit Site

Best Schools for Political Science & Government in South Dakota

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the political science & government degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Political Science & Government

1

South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

20 Political Science & Government Degrees Awarded

$34,337 Median Starting Salary

South Dakota State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in political science & government. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 20 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the political science & government program make about $34,337 in their early career. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full political science & government details for South Dakota State University

2

University Of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

33 Political Science & Government Degrees Awarded

$31,973 Median Starting Salary

University Of South Dakota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in political science & government, ranking #2. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. University Of South Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 political science & government students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Dakota in the most recent data year. Political Science & Government graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $31,973 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full political science & government program report for University Of South Dakota

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.