South Dakota Criminal Justice Schools: Degrees & Salaries

Updated September 17, 2026

Eight South Dakota colleges offer a criminal justice degree, from two-year technical programs to the University of South Dakota’s bachelor’s track. As of May 2025 BLS wage data, correctional officers earn a median $53,040 a year and police officers $60,740, and the state projects steady growth in patrol and detective roles through 2034.

South Dakota runs its criminal justice system lean. A handful of urban departments in Sioux Falls and Rapid City carry most of the caseload, while sheriff’s offices in the state’s many rural counties often double as the only law enforcement for miles. If you’re weighing a career in patrol, corrections, or the courts here, the school options and the numbers below are the place to start.

State Agency: South Dakota Department of Corrections

Criminal Justice Education in South Dakota

At CriminalJusticePrograms.com, we make it easy to find the criminal justice programs available in your state. Read on to learn more about your degree options and where to study.

Featured Programs:

Where to Study Criminal Justice in South Dakota

Eight South Dakota institutions offer a program in the criminal-justice-family CIP codes at some credential level, per U.S. Department of Education data, ranging from an undergraduate certificate through a bachelor’s degree:

Institution	City	Control	Credential Levels Offered
Dakota Wesleyan University	Mitchell	Private nonprofit	Associate, Bachelor’s (Criminal Justice); Bachelor’s (Homeland Security)
Lake Area Technical College	Watertown	Public	Associate (Criminal Justice)
Mount Marty University	Yankton	Private nonprofit	Associate, Bachelor’s (Criminal Justice); Bachelor’s (Security Science and Technology)
Sinte Gleska University	Mission	Public	Associate (Legal Support Services); Undergraduate Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s (Criminal Justice)
Southeast Technical College	Sioux Falls	Public	Associate (Criminal Justice)
University of Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls	Private nonprofit	Associate, Bachelor’s (Criminal Justice)
University of South Dakota	Vermillion	Public	Undergraduate Certificate, Bachelor’s (Criminal Justice)
Western Dakota Technical College	Rapid City	Public	Associate (Legal Support Services, Criminal Justice, Fire Protection)

A ninth school, National American University-Rapid City, offers Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, and Homeland Security programs from the associate through doctoral level, but College Scorecard classifies every one of its programs as distance-only, so it isn’t counted among the eight in-state options above.

This list reflects federal education data current as of the 2025 College Scorecard files, not each school’s live catalog. Program names and formats change between data cycles, so confirm current enrollment, delivery format, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying.

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed September 2026.

South Dakota Criminal Justice Job Outlook and Salaries

South Dakota’s roughly 7,540 protective service workers earn a median of $52,140 a year, as of May 2025 BLS wage data. That figure covers everyone from corrections to patrol, but the specific job you’re chasing determines a lot more than the state average does.

If a jail or prison is where you see yourself, correctional officers and jailers in South Dakota earn a median of $53,040 a year, and the state projects a 6.7% decline in these roles through 2034. Bailiffs don’t have a South Dakota-specific wage on file, but nationally they earn a median of $56,600, with a modest 2.1% national decline projected over the same period. Supervising either group pays more: first-line supervisors of correctional officers earn a median $77,400 in South Dakota.

Patrol work and investigations trend the other direction. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median $60,740, with the state projecting 4.6% growth through 2034, and first-line supervisors of police and detectives earn a median $87,810, with 4.8% growth. Move into plainclothes work as a detective or criminal investigator and the median climbs to $77,730, with 2.3% growth projected.

Occupation	Median Wage (May 2025)	Projected Growth, 2024-34
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$53,040	-6.7%
Bailiffs	$56,600 (national)	-2.1% (national)
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$77,400	not available
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers	$60,740	+4.6%
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$87,810	+4.8%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$77,730	+2.3%

State-level wage figures come from the May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for South Dakota. Occupation names link to BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profiles for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs and Police and Detectives, and for First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, which describe the roles and generally report national figures. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are South Dakota’s requirements to become a certified police officer?

South Dakota’s Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission sets the state’s minimum employment and training standards, with the Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Investigation administering the training system. State minimum standards don’t require a bachelor’s degree, though individual agencies may set additional education requirements. Departments can appoint an officer on a temporary or probationary basis before required preparatory training is complete, within the state’s time limits. Certification also calls for a medical examination confirming fitness for law enforcement duty, and the commission is authorized to set physical and mental standards for certification. Check with the commission or your target department for the specific current requirements.

What’s the difference between an associate and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice here?

An associate degree, offered at schools like Lake Area Technical College and Southeast Technical College, can provide preparation for entry-level corrections, patrol, or security work, though hiring and certification requirements for those jobs are set by the state and by individual agencies rather than by the degree itself. A bachelor’s degree, available at the University of South Dakota and several private schools, can support a move into investigative, supervisory, or federal roles, but education requirements for those positions vary by agency and employer rather than following one statewide rule.

Which South Dakota criminal justice careers are growing the fastest?

Patrol and investigative roles are projected to grow through 2034: police and sheriff’s patrol officers by 4.6%, detectives and criminal investigators by 2.3%, and first-line police supervisors by 4.8%. Corrections is moving the other way, with a projected 6.7% decline in correctional officer and jailer positions over the same period.

Can I complete a criminal justice degree online in South Dakota?

Yes. National American University-Rapid City offers criminal justice, legal support, and homeland security programs entirely online, from the associate through doctoral level. Several of the state’s in-state schools also build flexibility into their programs, so ask directly about hybrid or online options if that matters to you.

Key Takeaways

Eight in-state schools – plus one fully distance-only option – offer a criminal justice program from certificate through bachelor’s level
Corrections pays a median of $53,040 but is the one track with a projected decline of 6.7% through 2034
Patrol, supervisory, and detective roles show wage and growth advantages over entry-level corrections work in this data
A bachelor’s degree isn’t required by state minimum standards to become a South Dakota police officer, though individual agencies and specific roles may set their own additional requirements

If you’re not sure yet which piece of the system is the right fit, our guide to the full range of criminal justice careers breaks down patrol, corrections, the courts, and everything in between.

Featured Programs:

South Dakota Criminal Justice Schools

Online programs may not be available in all areas