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Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota

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2023 Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota

7 Colleges
$39,049 Avg Salary
$29,667 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education School for You

Special Education is one of the most popular subjects to study in South Dakota. With 94 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 4th out of all the majors we track in the state.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Teaching Degree Search has developed this Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota ranking. This report analyzed 7 schools in South Dakota to see which ones offered the best programs for teaching students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota

The following schools top our list of the Best Special Education Colleges.

Top South Dakota Schools in Special Education

#1

Dakota State University

Madison, SD

Our 2023 rankings named Dakota State University the best school in South Dakota for special education students. Located in the town of Madison, Dakota State is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Dakota State carry an average student debtload of $31,000.

Full Special Education at Dakota State University Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northern State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the remote town of Aberdeen, NSU is a public college with a small student population.

Full Special Education at Northern State University Report

#3

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD

The excellent programs at Augustana University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in South Dakota. Located in the midsize city of Sioux Falls, Augustana Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Special Education at Augustana University Report

#4

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Special Education Schools in South Dakota list. Located in the distant town of Vermillion, USD is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Special Ed majors at USD take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#5

Mount Marty University

Yankton, SD

The excellent programs at Mount Marty University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in South Dakota. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Yankton.

Read More…

#6

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD

University of Sioux Falls did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for special education students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls, University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Sioux Falls

Black Hills State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for special education students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the town of Spearfish, BHSU is a public college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at BHSU take out is $31,000.

Read More…

Best Special Education Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Special Education Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 539
Kansas 444
Minnesota 846
Iowa 180
North Dakota 186
Nebraska 362

One of 14 majors within the teaching area of study, special education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 24,497
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 3,111
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,789
Elementary Special Education 1,625
Other Special Education & Teaching 1,227
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 1,133
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 655
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 540
Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented 504
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 415
Education of the Deaf 363
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 226
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed 222
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs 181
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 134
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 122
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic & Other Physical Health Impairments 47
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 7 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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