South Dakota has one CSWE-accredited MSW program: the University of South Dakota Department of Social Work, which received CSWE accreditation in 2010. USD is a public research university with its main campus in Vermillion; the MSW program's primary instructional presence is in Sioux Falls, the state's largest city and social work employment hub, per the CSWE directory. Online delivery was added in 2018. The Advanced Generalist concentration prepares graduates for practice across micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Advanced Standing is available for qualified BSW holders.
South Dakota's social work landscape is defined in part by its nine federally recognized tribal nations, which collectively occupy a substantial portion of the state's western territory. The Pine Ridge Reservation (Oglala Sioux Tribe), the Rosebud Reservation (Rosebud Sioux Tribe), and the Standing Rock Reservation (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, shared with North Dakota) have among the highest rates of poverty and social service need of any communities in the United States. The Indian Health Service Aberdeen Area, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board, and tribal social services departments across South Dakota's reservations depend heavily on USD MSW graduates for their licensed social work workforce. The 2010 accreditation date means USD is a relatively recent entrant to MSW education, but it has rapidly become the essential pipeline for the state's social work workforce.
South Dakota social work licensing is administered by the Board of Social Work Examiners within the South Dakota Department of Health. The state issues an LMSW for MSW graduates and a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) for those who complete post-graduate supervised clinical hours, which is distinct from the LCSW credential designation used in most other states but equivalent in function.
The 1 CSWE-Accredited MSW Program in South Dakota
Scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. All data sourced from the CSWE accreditation directory and official program pages (.edu). Accreditation year is the Initial Accreditation Date from the CSWE directory. USD operates from Sioux Falls and online (2018) per CSWE.
- #1
University of South Dakota Department of Social Work
Sioux Falls, SD · On-Campus or Online
7.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2010Why It Ranks Here
The University of South Dakota Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2010 and is the only CSWE-accredited MSW program in South Dakota. One concentration is listed: Advanced Generalist. Advanced Standing is available. Online delivery was added in 2018. USD is a public research university. While USD's main campus is in Vermillion, the MSW program operates its primary instructional presence in Sioux Falls, the state's largest city and social work employment center, per the CSWE directory. This placement provides direct access to Sioux Falls' major healthcare employers, including Sanford Health (headquartered in Sioux Falls and the dominant health system in the Dakotas) and Avera McKennan Hospital (a major regional medical center), as well as the state's Department of Social Services offices and behavioral health providers. USD's 2010 accreditation date reflects a relatively recent program establishment; the Advanced Generalist concentration and online delivery broaden access across the state's dispersed population.
Public (University of South Dakota). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
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Job Market for MSW Graduates in South Dakota
Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city and by far its most active social work labor market. Sanford Health, headquartered in Sioux Falls, is the largest rural health system in the United States and the dominant healthcare employer in both the Dakotas. Sanford's Sioux Falls facilities, including its flagship medical center, employ a large concentration of healthcare social workers. Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, affiliated with the Avera Health system (headquartered in Sioux Falls), is the other major hospital-based employer. The South Dakota Department of Social Services and its contracted behavioral health providers employ the largest share of public-sector social workers in the city. Volunteers of America Dakotas, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, and other nonprofits serving the Sioux Falls homeless, refugee, and low-income populations are additional field placement and employment sites.
The tribal social services sector is a significant employer of USD MSW graduates across western South Dakota. The Oglala Sioux Tribe's social services programs at Pine Ridge, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe social services at Rosebud, the Indian Health Service Great Plains Area (headquartered in Aberdeen), and the tribal colleges including Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska University, and Sitting Bull College all employ or support social work practitioners. These settings involve not just direct practice but also community organizing, policy advocacy, and program administration, all within the Advanced Generalist framework the USD program uses.
Rapid City, the second-largest city in South Dakota and the primary service center for western South Dakota, is an additional employer market for USD graduates. Regional Health (Monument Health) and Rapid City Regional Hospital, the Pennington County social services, and the Rapid City Indian Health Board are the primary employers. The Black Hills area's growing population and the social service needs of western tribal communities make Rapid City an increasingly important social work labor market.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, South Dakota; SD Board of Social Work Examiners.
How We Ranked This Program
Each program is scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. The state ranking uses identical criteria and weights. No South Dakota-specific adjustments are made. For the full methodology, see our ranking methodology page.
- CSWE Accreditation (25%): Active accreditation status and continuous accreditation history.
- Program Leadership (15%): Faculty credentials, research output, and peer-assessment scores.
- Pathways (15%): Concentration variety, Advanced Standing availability, and dual-degree options.
- Delivery Format (15%): Online, hybrid, and in-person availability; start-term flexibility.
- Employer Signal (15%): Field placement hours required, practicum site depth, and documented placement infrastructure.
- Cost & Affordability (10%): Published tuition per credit or per year, in-state vs. out-of-state differential.
- Reputation (5%): U.S. News peer-assessment scores and institutional recognition.