Top Ranked Programs
Northern State University's program mix is anchored in education and teacher-preparation fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving South Dakota. Teacher Education is the largest program with 34 graduates, followed by Subject-Specific Teacher Education, Biology, General, Business Administration, and Kinesiology. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 270 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The strongest earnings performers include Biology, General, where graduates earn median earnings of $70,545 four years after enrollment with 26 graduates, and Accounting, where median earnings reach $67,072 with 20 graduates. Business Administration delivers median earnings of $56,571 with 26 graduates, while Kinesiology and Sociology round out the higher-earning cluster. These programs reflect a mix of education-adjacent fields and applied professional pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional labor-market outcomes. Education represents the institution's core strength and largest degree concentration, positioning Northern State as a primary educator-preparation hub for the region. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional workforce needs and long-term career stability in education and related fields.