Best and Affordable Mental Health Counseling Programs in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to four nonprofit colleges and universities that grant master’s degrees in mental health counseling (MHC), clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), or a closely related field.¹ Most South Dakota schools offer such programs with at least some coursework delivered online or in hybrid formats. Continue reading for information about each program that leads to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH) credentials, the job outlook for counselors across South Dakota, typical earnings, and the professional organizations that shape the field locally.

Table of Contents

• South Dakota MHC Program Comparison
• Best MHC Programs
• Most Affordable MHC Programs
• Online MHC Programs
• South Dakota MHC Salary and Outlook Information
• Additional Resources

Comparison of South Dakota Schools With Mental Health Counseling Programs

The table below compares the four South Dakota mental health counseling programs on key factors, including accreditation status, institution type, program format, US News & World Report rankings, in-state and out-of-state tuition, and total number of credit hours required. All institutions listed below are not-for-profit. If we’ve missed a South Dakota school with a mental health counseling program, please let us know. For more information on these schools, please visit our South Dakota counseling degrees page, master’s in mental health counseling degree guide, or individual school websites.

Best Mental Health Counseling Programs in South Dakota

The schools below offer the top-ranked mental health counseling programs in South Dakota, as determined by program accreditation and third-party school ratings. Tiebreakers are determined by total in-state program cost.

South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University (SDSU) trains clinical mental health counselors through its Master of Science (MS) in Counseling and Human Resource Development, one of several specializations housed in that degree. The CMHC track is CACREP-accredited and runs 60 credits, with coursework designed to meet South Dakota’s requirements. Its home base is the Brookings campus, but SDSU also delivers the program at its Rapid City location and online, giving students in different parts of the state more than one route through the coursework. Along with classroom study, students complete supervised practicum and internship experiences and sit for comprehensive written and oral examinations before they are endorsed as entry-level clinical mental health counselors. Once graduates finish the required supervised clinical experience and pass the appropriate exams, they are eligible for licensure in South Dakota as an LPC and, with additional clinical experience, the LPC-MH.

University of South Dakota

At the University of South Dakota (USD) in Vermillion, clinical mental health training is built into the Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and Psychology in Education, offered through the Division of Counseling and Psychology in Education. Students choose between a School Counseling focus and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) focus; the CMHC specialization is a 60-credit, non-thesis program with CACREP accreditation. Coursework is delivered on campus, and the program requires students to complete their first semester in person before continuing. Clinical preparation is a central feature, with a practicum and internship sequence and hands-on experience available through an on-campus training clinic, and a comprehensive examination comes near the end of the program, just ahead of the internship. Graduates meet South Dakota’s educational requirements for licensure and, after completing the supervised experience and examinations the state requires, can pursue the LPC and, ultimately, the LPC-MH credential.

Most Affordable Mental Health Counseling Programs in South Dakota

The following four schools offer the most cost-effective mental health counseling degrees, based on their minimum tuition, not including additional fees. Required credit hours may differ depending on the concentration area, so be sure to check with schools of interest for more details on specific program options. For a detailed comparison, you can refer to the comparison table above to find the quality indicators that align with your needs. Tuition shown is the lowest per-credit rate published as of the most recent catalog; confirm totals with each school.

1. South Dakota State University ($21,480)
2. University of South Dakota ($21,480)
3. Kairos University ($25,200)
4. Northern State University ($29,040)

Online Mental Health Counseling Programs in South Dakota

The following schools offer online or hybrid degrees in mental health counseling:

• Kairos University (Online)
• Northern State University (Hybrid; Online)
• South Dakota State University (Online)

South Dakota Mental Health Counselor Salary and Outlook Information

Projections for South Dakota mental health counselors are similar to national trends, with an expected growth rate of 17.1% in the state compared to 16.8% nationwide.⁵ This growth is likely to result in an average of 160 annual openings in South Dakota through 2034.⁵ The table below shows salaries by metro area for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, compared to the statewide average.

Additional Resources

• Counseling Degrees Guide: Explore counseling degree options by level and specialization, including online and on-campus programs.
• Counseling Interviews and Advice: Read our interviews page for career advice from experienced clinical mental health counselors.
• Counseling School Accreditation Information: Learn about accreditation at both the institutional and program levels.
• Mental Health Counselor Career Guide: An overview of the counseling profession, including job duties, required skills, and common work environments.
• South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists: The state licensing authority for professional counselors, operating under the Department of Social Services, with information on the LPC and LPC-MH credentials, the NCE and NCMHCE examinations, application forms and plans of supervision, regulations, and renewals.
• South Dakota Counseling Association (SDCA): The South Dakota branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA), offering continuing education, legislative advocacy, and networking for counselors statewide; its membership includes the South Dakota Mental Health Counselors Association (SDMHCA) division for clinical mental health counselors.
• South Dakota Counseling Schools: Find counseling programs in South Dakota, including on-campus, online, and hybrid options.
• South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health: Housed within the Department of Social Services, this division oversees South Dakota’s publicly funded behavioral health system, supporting mental health, substance use, prevention, crisis, and recovery services across the state.
• South Dakota LPC Licensing Process: Step-by-step guidance on becoming licensed in South Dakota, including education, supervised experience, and examination requirements.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
4. US News & World Report 2025 Best National University Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities
5. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm