South Dakota has 6 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 4 public universities and 2 technical colleges. South Dakota State University is the only school with geography degrees, and it offers them from the bachelor’s through the Ph.D. The other schools offer GIS and geospatial certificates or technical programs.
South Dakota Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography | Brookings campus and online | 120 (major 41 or 44) | Capstone course; a minor outside the major is required |
| South Dakota State University | B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences | Brookings campus and online | 120 (major 45) | Options in GIS Analyst, GIS Developer, or Geospatial Data Science |
| South Dakota State University | Geographic Information Sciences Certificate (undergraduate) | Brookings campus and online | 12 | GIS plus cartography or drone remote sensing |
| University of South Dakota | Geospatial Analysis Undergraduate Certificate | Campus (Vermillion) | 12 | Remote sensing, GIS, and drone applications |
| Northern State University | GIS Certificate | Campus (Aberdeen) | 12 | GIS, remote sensing, and a statistics course |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Geospatial Technology Certificate (undergraduate) | Campus (Rapid City) | 12 | Four courses in GIS, databases, analysis, and remote sensing |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography, with an optional Geographic Information Sciences specialization | Campus (Brookings) | 30 thesis or 33 non-thesis | GRE not required |
| South Dakota State University | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geospatial Science and Engineering (Geography or Remote Sensing specialization) | Campus (Brookings) | 60 after a master’s, or 90 | A faculty advisor must agree before admission |
| South Dakota State University | Geographic Information Sciences Certificate (graduate) | Brookings campus and online | 12 | On the graduate catalog’s list of online programs |
| South Dakota State University | Geospatial Intelligence Certificate (graduate) | Campus (Brookings) | 15 | Includes a capstone |
| University of South Dakota | Geospatial Analysis Graduate Certificate | On campus (Vermillion) | 12 | One letter of recommendation; no GRE listed |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Geospatial Technology Certificate (graduate) | Campus (Rapid City) | 12 | Four courses; no project or exam |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed.
Technical College Programs
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Technical College | Drone Aviation and Geospatial Technologies Diploma | 35 | On campus (Mitchell), two semesters |
| Southeast Technical College | Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Land Surveying Science Technology | 67 | Not stated (Sioux Falls) |
South Dakota has no community college system. Mitchell Tech’s diploma has a transfer agreement with South Dakota State: graduates with a 2.5 GPA can apply 23 technical credits as a block toward the B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in South Dakota
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The programs below have an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online.
Verified fully online options
- South Dakota State University graduate GIS certificate: the 12-credit Geographic Information Sciences Certificate is on the graduate catalog’s list of programs offered online.
- South Dakota State University B.A. or B.S. in Geography: the catalog lists “Online” as a location alongside the Brookings campus, and the degree appears in the university’s online degree listing.
- South Dakota State University B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences: listed the same way, with “Online” as a location.
- South Dakota State University undergraduate GIS certificate: 12 credits, also listed with “Online” as a location.
South Dakota State lists these undergraduate programs as offered online but does not publish a separate statement that every required course is available online. Ask the department to confirm before enrolling as a fully online student.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- South Dakota State M.S., Ph.D., and Geospatial Intelligence Certificate: listed for the Brookings campus only.
- University of South Dakota, Northern State, and South Dakota Mines certificates: each is listed as an on-campus program.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
South Dakota School Summaries
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State’s Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences offers a B.A. or B.S. in Geography. The core includes physical and human geography, Introduction to GIS or Cartography, and Research Methods. Students finish with a capstone course, Geography of the Future or Sustainable Communities. The B.A. adds a foreign language, and the B.S. adds natural science credits and advanced geography courses. An internship is optional.
The B.S. in Geographic Information Sciences has a 45-credit major. Core courses include Introduction to Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Introduction to GIS, Cartography, and a one-credit geospatial capstone. Students choose an 18-credit option: GIS Analyst, GIS Developer, or Geospatial Data Science.
The M.S. in Geography requires 30 credits with a thesis or 33 without, and both routes end in an oral defense. A Geographic Information Sciences specialization adds nine credits of GIS and remote sensing. Applicants need two letters and at least nine undergraduate geography credits. The GRE is not required. The department pages do not advertise assistantships for the M.S.
The Ph.D. in Geospatial Science and Engineering has Geography and Remote Sensing specializations and includes 36 dissertation credits. The GRE is required. Funding comes from individual faculty research grants, and a faculty member must agree to advise the student before admission.
- Certificates: a 12-credit GIS certificate at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and a 15-credit graduate Geospatial Intelligence Certificate. South Dakota State says certificate-only students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Sources: Geography B.A./B.S.; Geographic Information Sciences B.S.; Geography M.S.; Geospatial Science and Engineering Ph.D.; graduate GIS certificate; GIS B.S. program page; M.S. program page.
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota has a geography minor but no geography degree. Its 12-credit Geospatial Analysis certificates, undergraduate and graduate, require Remote Sensing and Introduction to GIS, plus two courses chosen from Advanced Geospatial Analyses, Drone Applications, and a computer science course. The graduate certificate requires a 2.7 undergraduate GPA and one letter of recommendation.
Sources: undergraduate certificate; graduate certificate.
Northern State University
Northern State offers a 12-credit undergraduate GIS Certificate: Introduction to GIS, GIS Data Creation and Integration, Remote Sensing, and a statistics course. Geography and GIS are otherwise offered as minors.
Sources: GIS certificate catalog; program page.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota Mines offers a 12-credit Geospatial Technology Certificate through its geology department, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Both versions are four courses: Introduction to GIS, Geospatial Databases, Advanced Geospatial Analysis, and Introduction to Remote Sensing. Students with a bachelor’s degree can take the graduate-level versions.
Sources: undergraduate certificate; graduate certificate; certificates page.
Technical Colleges
Mitchell Technical College offers a one-year, 35-credit Drone Aviation and Geospatial Technologies Diploma. Courses include Introduction to GIS, Principles of GPS, GIS Problems and Analysis, Remote Sensing, and drone operation, with preparation for the FAA remote pilot exam.
Southeast Technical College offers a 67-credit A.A.S. in Land Surveying Science Technology. It is a surveying degree that also includes Introduction to GIS and a small drone course. The college says it provides the 24 land surveying credits required for licensure in South Dakota.
Sources: Mitchell Tech program page; Mitchell Tech catalog; Southeast Tech program page; South Dakota State transfer agreements.
Schools not included
- Black Hills State University: geography minor only.
- Dakota State University: no geography or GIS program.
- Lake Area Technical College: its 18-credit drone certificate includes one GIS and one remote sensing course but is a drone credential, not a GIS credential.
- Western Dakota Technical College, Oglala Lakota College, and Sinte Gleska University: GIS courses appear inside environmental or natural science degrees, with no separate geography or GIS credential.
- No geography or GIS credential: Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mount Marty University, and Sisseton Wahpeton College.
Tuition Comparison
Estimated tuition is our arithmetic from each published rate and the stated basis. Each figure is labeled “per year” or “total.” None includes fees, housing, books, or other costs.
Undergraduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University Geography or GIS bachelor’s degree (campus) | $273.00 per credit (resident) $396.30 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits per year | $8,190 resident per year $11,889 nonresident per year | $53.00 per credit activity fee; $22.70 per credit on geography courses |
| South Dakota State University Geography or GIS bachelor’s degree (online) | $373.80 per credit, any residency | 30 credits per year | $11,214 per year | None; the online rate is the total per-credit cost, though delivery fees may apply |
| South Dakota State University GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | $273.00 per credit (resident) $396.30 (nonresident) $373.80 (online) | 12 credits | $3,276 resident total $4,755.60 nonresident total $4,485.60 online total | Campus: $53.00 and $22.70 per credit Online: none |
| University of South Dakota Geospatial Analysis Certificate (undergraduate) | $273.00 per credit (resident) $396.30 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $3,276 resident total $4,755.60 nonresident total | $57.55 per credit activity fee, plus course discipline fees |
| Northern State University GIS Certificate | $267.45 per credit (resident) $376.40 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $3,209.40 resident total $4,516.80 nonresident total | $42.85 per credit activity fee, plus course discipline fees |
| South Dakota Mines Geospatial Technology Certificate (undergraduate) | $287.30 per credit (resident) $449.85 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $3,447.60 resident total $5,398.20 nonresident total | $51.70 per credit activity fee; $93.50 per credit on geology courses |
| Southeast Technical College Land Surveying Science Technology A.A.S. | $134 per credit, any residency | 67 credits | $8,978 total | $148 per credit, plus program and registration fees |
| Mitchell Technical College Drone Aviation and Geospatial Technologies Diploma | $130 per credit, any residency (2025–26, the latest posted) | 35 credits | $4,550 total | $108 to $123 per credit |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State University M.S. in Geography | $358.40 per credit (resident) $689.15 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits (thesis) or 33 credits (non-thesis) | 30 credits: $10,752 resident total; $20,674.50 nonresident total 33 credits: $11,827.20 resident total; $22,741.95 nonresident total | $53.00 per credit activity fee; $22.70 per credit on geography courses |
| South Dakota State University Ph.D. in Geospatial Science and Engineering | $358.40 per credit (resident) $689.15 per credit (nonresident) | 60 credits (after a master’s) | $21,504 resident total $41,349 nonresident total | Same as the M.S. Graduate assistants pay no tuition. |
| South Dakota State University Graduate GIS Certificate | $495.70 per credit online, any residency $358.40 per credit on campus (resident) | 12 credits | $5,948.40 online total $4,300.80 resident campus total | Online: none Campus: $53.00 and $22.70 per credit |
| South Dakota State University Geospatial Intelligence Certificate | $358.40 per credit (resident) $689.15 per credit (nonresident) | 15 credits | $5,376 resident total $10,337.25 nonresident total | $53.00 and $22.70 per credit |
| University of South Dakota Geospatial Analysis Certificate (graduate) | $358.40 per credit (resident) $689.15 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $4,300.80 resident total $8,269.80 nonresident total | $57.55 per credit activity fee, plus course discipline fees |
| South Dakota Mines Geospatial Technology Certificate (graduate) | $373.65 per credit (resident) $749.95 per credit (nonresident) | 12 credits | $4,483.80 resident total $8,999.40 nonresident total | $51.70 per credit activity fee; $93.50 per credit on geology courses |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- The Board of Regents sets one online rate for residents and nonresidents. It is higher than resident campus tuition but includes all fees.
- New freshmen and transfer students from 11 nearby states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, pay the resident undergraduate rate under the South Dakota Advantage program.
- Campus students pay a general activity fee on every credit and a discipline fee that depends on the course subject.
- Technical colleges charge one tuition rate with no nonresident surcharge, but their per-credit fees are higher than tuition.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in South Dakota
Broad geography or technical GIS
South Dakota State offers both: the Geography B.A. or B.S. covers physical, human, and regional geography, while the Geographic Information Sciences B.S. focuses on GIS, remote sensing, and programming or data science. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, diploma, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Four universities offer 12-credit GIS or geospatial certificates that can be added to another major. Mitchell Tech’s one-year diploma is the fastest technical route and transfers into South Dakota State’s GIS degree. For graduate study, South Dakota State is the only in-state option. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
South Dakota State lists its geography and GIS bachelor’s degrees and GIS certificates as available online. Its M.S. and Ph.D., and the certificates at the other three universities, are campus programs.
Research or professional master’s
South Dakota State’s M.S. offers a thesis route and a non-thesis route that ends in a research project or portfolio. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience.
Funding
South Dakota State’s Ph.D. students are funded through faculty research grants, and graduate assistants there have tuition waived. No assistantships are advertised specifically for the M.S. in Geography, so ask the department. Certificate-only students at South Dakota State are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 2, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages. Mitchell Technical College’s current catalog covers 2025–27. Tuition comes from 2026–27 schedules unless a row notes otherwise.
- South Dakota Board of Regents: tuition rates for all public universities
- South Dakota State: tuition and fees, graduate assistantships
- University of South Dakota: online tuition
- Southeast Tech: program costs and fees
- Mitchell Tech: tuition and fees
Program-level source links appear at the end of each school summary. Programs, rates, and requirements change, so confirm them with each school before applying.