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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in South Dakota

3 Colleges in the United States
76 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$41,695 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in South Dakota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in South Dakota.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

University Of South Dakota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice studies. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,402 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of South Dakota

2

Northern State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Aberdeen. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Northern State University awarded about 16 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northern State University generally make around $45,824. Northern State University graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northern State University

3

University Of Sioux Falls is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Sioux Falls in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $38,858 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of Sioux Falls

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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