2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in South Dakota
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked South Dakota State University the best value for a degree in social sciences in South Dakota. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $25,704 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $40,058 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,704 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Dakota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Students borrow a median of $22,942 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $36,860. That is a strong return on a $22,942 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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.
