Online Nonprofit Management Degree in South Dakota: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: South Dakota employs about 450 social and community service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through employers in your target sector on preferred credentials. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare nonprofit management programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in South Dakota

Nonprofit management is not licensed. Some professionals pursue voluntary fundraising or nonprofit-leadership certificates, and employers genuinely vary in how much weight they give them - board and program experience usually counts for more.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with employers in your target sector on preferred credentials that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 2 schools within 128 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 128.2 miles away BOC Score 59.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 284
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,042 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, SD 65.6 miles away BOC Score 53.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 47.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 65
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,461 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Social and Community Service Managers Earn in South Dakota

Social and Community Service Managers in South Dakota earn a median $86,870 per year, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Nonprofit Management Pay and Employment in South Dakota at a Glance

MetricSouth DakotaNationalSource
Median annual wage$86,870$80,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$65,660$53,150BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$75,200$64,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$104,610$103,200BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$117,590$132,260BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment450209,330BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.741.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How South Dakota Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The South Dakota median of $86,870 sits above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.74 puts South Dakota below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in South Dakota

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Sioux Falls$91,120200
Rapid City$83,55080

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Nonprofit employment tracks where foundations, health systems, universities and government grantees are headquartered, which favors state capitals and larger metros.

Social and Community Service Managers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), social and community service managers wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Sioux Falls200$91,120$92,150$70,890$117,590
Sioux City130$73,530$72,520$46,600$106,590
Rapid City80$83,550$86,390$62,400$111,990

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All South Dakota Metro Areas With Published Data

Sioux Falls


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do social and community service managers make in South Dakota?

The median annual wage for social and community service managers in South Dakota is $86,870, above the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $75,200 at the 25th percentile to $104,610 at the 75th.

How many social and community service managers work in South Dakota?

South Dakota holds about 450 community service manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 209,330, and BLS projects about 18,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a community service manager in South Dakota?

Nonprofit management is not licensed. Some professionals pursue voluntary fundraising or nonprofit-leadership certificates, and employers genuinely vary in how much weight they give them - board and program experience usually counts for more. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with employers in your target sector on preferred credentials before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a nonprofit management bachelor's or master's online while working in South Dakota?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies employers in your target sector on preferred credentials.

What is the highest-paying area of South Dakota for social and community service managers?

Among South Dakota metro areas with published data, Sioux Falls reports the highest median at $91,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is South Dakota a good state for social and community service managers?

On pay, the state median of $86,870 sits above the national $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.74 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Social and Community Service Managers (SOC 11-9151), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.