B-School Search
South Dakota (SD) ranks #15 on Chief Executive’s 2019 list of Best and Worst States for Business, #16 on the Forbes 2018 list of Best States for Business, and #45 on U.S. News and World Report’s Best States for Business Environment.
South Dakota has some advantages and some disadvantages in the world of business. Its business costs are a huge advantage, as is the beneficial tax structure and legacy of a minimal regulatory environment. Despite these pluses, South Dakota is not a place for innovation with a less-than-average flow of venture capital, entrepreneurship, and low levels of patent creation.
Key industries in South Dakota include agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, retail, finance, and healthcare. While South Dakota does not house any Fortune 500 headquarters, big companies in the state include Walmart, Hy-Vee, Citibank South Dakota NA, Larson Manufacturing Co., Tyson Fresh Meats, and Shaw Industries. Major incentives are available for business development. For example, South Dakota is offering funds, cost-offsets, fixed energy rates, and assistance with infrastructure.
Busy working professionals interested in moving into industries or networking with the business communities in South Dakota can make a step in the right direction by pursuing an online MBA offered by business schools located in the state. Online MBA programs are perfect for working professionals who cannot relocate or stop working, but wish to change careers, advance their current career in business, or take on higher-level leadership positions in the business arena. With the same accreditations and taught by the same professors as their on-campus counterparts, online MBAs offer the same quality of education as on-campus programs with the flexibility to choose the when and where of learning.
Keep reading to learn more about online MBA programs offered by business schools in South Dakota, the possibility to combine online and on-campus learning, and the distinguished professors behind the online learning experiences.
Featured Online MBA Programs in South Dakota
The online MBA offered through the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University prepares graduates to hold top positions in business. Enrolled students can opt for a general MBA track or can choose from one of six emphases, including analytics, healthcare informatics, information systems, non-profit leadership, supply chain management, or sports leadership.
Coursework in the 36-credit program includes the legal and ethical environment of business, management and leadership, international management, and economics for decision making. This program can be taken synchronously or asynchronously. GMAT scores are not required for those with a business administration BA and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Non-business majors must have two years of professional experience to apply.
| Location: Madison, South Dakota |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two to five years |
| Estimated Tuition: $465.80 per credit-hour |
Embracing John Wesley’s Christ-centered model, Dakota Wesleyan offers a 100 percent online MBA designed to graduate students that will benefit the region in small- to medium-sized businesses. Students accepted into the program can choose between two concentrations in entrepreneurial and strategic leadership or trust management.
Coursework in the 36-credit program includes managerial economics, managing workplace environments, strategic business development, and leadership/corporate accountability. GMAT scores are not required to apply. Students with a non-business undergraduate degree will be required to take three to five self-paced leveling courses.
| Location: Mitchell, South Dakota |
| Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $425 per credit-hour (strategic leadership), $450 per credit-hour (trust management) |
The part-time online MBA offered through the Vucurevich School of Business at the University of Sioux Falls is best suited to experienced professionals with well-established careers who want a convenient, affordable, and accredited MBA taught through the lens of Christan values. Online students can choose between two concentrations in healthcare or management.
Coursework in the 36-credit program includes managerial communications, managing organizational dynamics, leadership and ethical management, and financial planning and control. No GMAT scores are required to apply. Students with a non-business background may be required to complete competency coursework in accounting, microeconomics, managerial/business finance, and statistics.
| Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Accreditation: International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 21 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $390 per credit-hour |
The online MBA offered through the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota is designed to develop business leaders in industry and government and to prepare the academically inclined for study at a doctoral level. Students enrolled in the program can choose a 33-credit-hour general MBA, or can choose to complete a 39-credit specialization in business analytics, finance, health service administration, marketing, or operations and supply chain management.
Coursework in the programs includes managerial accounting, leadership development, business and its environment, and operations management. Students are expected to attend a five-day on-campus residency experience. GMAT scores are required to apply. GMAT waivers may be available to those with a 3.25 GPA and an AACSB-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree; those with LSAT, MCAT, or GRE scores of a certain level; those with a JD or MD from USD (earned or earning); or those with professional licensure (CPA, CMA, CFA, CAP, or PE). Students without a business background may be required to complete up to 21 credit-hours of foundational coursework.
| Location: Vermillion, South Dakota |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
| Estimated Tuition: $465.80 per credit-hour |
The online MBA offered through the College of Business, Accounting, and Technology at National American University is designed for students looking to increase business knowledge and skills. Students enrolled in the 45-credit program can choose among 11 specialties: accounting, advanced incident and consequence management, advanced security management, e-marketing, healthcare administration, human resource management, information technology management, international business, management, operations and configuration management, and strategic security management.
Coursework in the program includes managerial accounting, marketing administration, an introduction to leadership quality, and strategy and policy. GMAT scores are not required to apply. Students with a non-business background may need to complete up to four foundational courses in accounting, statistics, macroeconomics, and finance prior to starting MBA coursework.
| Location: Rapid City, South Dakota |
| Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two Years |
| Estimated Tuition: $22,530 for the program |
Hybrid MBA Programs in South Dakota
For some students, an MBA program’s value is partially in the ability to build solid business networks. For those living close to a college campus who wish to capitalize on the unique networking opportunities provided by face-to-face interactions, hybrid online/on-campus MBA programming can be an attractive choice.
In some cases, the hybrid format includes an on-campus residency or intensive, while in other programs, students have the opportunity to participate in a mixture of evening or in-person classes offered by the university. In addition to the online programming described above, the following South Dakota programs offer hybrid MBA options:
- University of Sioux Falls – Vucurevich School of Business
- University of South Dakota – Beacom School of Business
- National American University – The College of Business, Accounting, and Technology
