Thousands upon thousands of sightseers head to South Dakota to get a glimpse of the famous Mount Rushmore each year.
That is not the only thing that this great state has to offer, though, there are also the Badlands, Great Plains, Black Elk Peak, oh and some great universities for people who are looking to study Public Health.
In fact, at the state’s premier research university, you can gain access to hands-on experiences to fulfill all your Public Health dreams.
While South Dakota doesn’t offer many in-person degree programs for Public Health, the surrounding states will pick up where South Dakota left off.
From online to in-person there is something for everyone seeking higher education in the beautiful state of South Dakota.
Take a look at our list of the best schools for Public Health for degree seekers across the country.
1University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota houses the largest school in the state, the University of South Dakota.
As of 2022, the University of South Dakota is one of the best schools in the entire United States.
Considering the campus only has about 6,800 students attending each year, that is saying quite a bit about the quality of the education here.
Small classes and familiar faculty make this a great school for those who want an intimate and individualized education.
Health conscious science-lovers will enjoy one of the many great majors here, Public Health.
This Bachelors degree is a four year commitment and will teach students how to help communities gain access to health programs to make people healthier.
One of the great aspects of the University of South Dakota is that you can enroll on campus or online, depending on the type of education you prefer.
No matter which option you choose, you will be required to take the following courses as well as several others to earn a degree:
- Social and Environmental Determinants of Health
- Ethics of Public Health and Policy
- Global Health
- Health Care Delivery
You will also be given the opportunity to take part in hands-on experiences with the Public Health Collaborative Project.
Students on the Public Health degree path will work with their community and healthcare organizations to create and implement programs to better assist people who cannot get healthcare elsewhere.
Take the journey to becoming a better person and a rewarding community helper with a degree in Public Health at the University of South Dakota.
After graduation, you will find it easy to become employed in roles that include:
- Youth Outreach Coordinator
- Employee Wellness Coordinator
- Department Planner
- Health Officer
Enrollment
For those interested in attending the University of South Dakota, academic advisors suggest taking a campus tour before enrolling so that you can make sure the school is right for you.
If you are ready to apply, head over to the website to fill out the easy online application.
Once there, you will find all the information you need to submit your application.
Don’t forget to include these important pieces of paperwork before clicking submit:
- Transcripts from high school or previous education
- ACT or SAT scores
- Housing information
- Financial aid information
An admissions advisor will contact you within two weeks to talk about move-in dates and orientations that are required before your first day at the University of South Dakota.
Fees
Residents of South Dakota will pay $18,856 annually which includes room and board.
After four years of education at the University of South Dakota, residents will end up paying $75,424 in total.
Without a meal plan or housing, the cost is $7,773 per year, which is about $31,902 upon graduation.
If you are a resident of Minnesota, you will pay$19,801 including room and board per year.
That total comes out to $79,204 once you have graduated from the school.
For those who come to the University of South Dakota from out of state, the annual tuition is $22,366 including room and board.
A four year degree at the University of South Dakota for out of state students is equal to $89,304.
Contact Information
- Address: 414 East Clark St. Vermillion, SD 57069
- Phone: 877-269-6837
- Website: www.usd.edu
2University of North Dakota
If you head straight north, you will find the great University of North Dakota in the city of Grand Forks.
This school was founded in 1883, even before the state became a state, which is a testament to the great education provided here.
Both North Dakota and South Dakota residents can enjoy this bustling 500 acre campus, and if you don’t want to move to North Dakota you can take your education online with a 100% virtual experience.
Over 130,000 alumni have called the University of North Dakota home, and you could be one of the many with a degree in Public Health.
The Public Health Bachelors degree is a four year program that teaches students how to give back to their communities through healthcare.
Along the way, you’ll study general education courses as well as science and sociology courses such as:
- Biostatistics
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Health Policy and Management
- Epidemiology
The University of North Dakota also provides a Masters degree that you can earn in just one year after completing your Bachelors degree.
All in all, you could be in school for five years and have earned degrees that can take you to great heights in the world of Public Health and healthcare in general.
After graduating, you will be able to access careers in Public Health that can become life-long, including:
- Environmental Health Educator
- Prevention Specialist
- Infection Preventionist
- Medical Resource Manager
Enrollment
Both first time freshman and returning students are welcome to apply to the University of North Dakota.
Students are rewarded for good grades in high school and are eligible for scholarships based on their academic GPA.
In order to obtain your scholarship at the University of North Dakota, your GPA must be:
- 3.9 – $14,000
- 3.7-3.89 – $11,000
- 3.5-2.69 – $1,500
National Merit Scholarships are also available upon enrollment as well.
In order to begin applying to this school, head over to the website to fill out the simple application.
It should only take about twenty to thirty minutes to apply if you have all of the necessary paperwork ready to go, including:
- Transcripts from high school or previous education
- SAT or ACT scores
There is a $35 non-refundable application fee for all applications submitted on the site.
It may take about two to three weeks to hear back from an academic advisor with the next steps in the process.
Fees
If you are a resident of North Dakota, you will pay $11,989 per year to attend.
Bachelors degrees require about four years to complete, so after graduation the total cost of attendance is $95,912.
If you decide to go to the University of North Dakota and you are not a resident of the state, you will pay $17,127 per year.
Non-residents will end up paying $68,508 upon graduation.
Housing and meal plans will add about $14,190 per year to that price for both non-residents and residents.
Contact Information
- Address: 3501 University Ave. Grand Forks, ND 58202
- Phone: 701-777-3000
- Website: www.und.edu
3Capella University
You may be more interested in a fully virtual degree, and that can be found through Capella University.
With headquarters in Minnesota, you may think that’s far but you won’t have to travel there at all, as everything you need for your education can be found right online.
Capella University is one of the oldest online institutions and has credible and accredited degrees in hundreds of areas.
One of those is the Public Health Bachelors degree, which can be done right from the comfort of your own home.
Each class is taken one at a time, and you’ll have access to student-led research, faculty who have experience in the field, and one-on-one education in courses like:
- Public Health and Policy Management
- Biostatistics
- Theories of Social and Behavioral Change
- Environmental Health
Just because it is an online degree does not mean that you won’t be given all of the necessary information you need to procure a successful career in Public Health.
In fact, students who have graduated from Capella University have found great success in careers like the following:
- Education Program Manager
- Health Coach
- Wellness Coordinator
- School Health Educator
Enrollment
In order to be considered for admission at Capella University, prospective students will need to meet the following standards:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Are 23 years of age or older
- Submit official high school transcript
- SAT or ACT scores
The online application process is easy and should take anywhere between twenty and thirty minutes.
There is a $50 application fee for this school.
It may take a week or two to hear back from an academic advisor about the status of your application, but once you have been accepted you can look into which courses best suit you.
Fees
Tuition at Capella university is $2,500 for full-time students per semester.
Each year, students will pay $5,000 for their education here.
Since it takes four years to complete a degree at Capella University, the average graduate will end up paying $20,000 for their online degree.
Additional fees may apply such as:
- Application fee – $25
- Resource kit – $75
- Credit per earning – $75
Contact Information
- Address: 225 South 6th St. 9th floor Minneapolis, MN 55402
- Phone: 866-796-6651
- Website: www.capella.edu
4Bellevue University
Another fantastic online school is located in Nebraska and goes by the name Bellevue University.
Each Bachelors degree that is offered at Bellevue University is designed to bring you one step closer to a life-long career in healthcare.
This private school is perfect for South Dakota residents who want to stay in their home state, and even their actual home, to earn a degree in Public Health.
About 10,000 students attend Bellevue University each year, and they all want a degree to help them find a job in healthcare in the area and around the world.
While studying at Bellevue University, you can expect to learn these skills in the Public Health program:
- How to implement and monitor health education plans
- How to research and select appropriate health information
- Planning healthcare programs
- How to analyze best practices for health education and promotion
Through courses steeped in biology and sociology, students are given fact and evidence based knowledge in classes like:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Epidemiology
- Health Communication
- Human Development
Everything at Bellevue is tailored to the individual student, so take a look at what types of careers that a degree from Bellevue can offer you once you graduate:
- Youth Program Specialist
- Health Counselor
- Employee Wellness Coordinator
- Health Journalist
Enrollment
Bellevue University is a great place to enroll if you are an adult student, first year freshman, transfer student and even from another country.
To apply, you’ll want to head over to the website to fill out your information.
It typically takes about twenty minutes to apply and costs $50.
There are some important pieces of information you’ll want to include with your application, such as:
- Proof of completion of high school or equivalent (GED, homeschool information, diploma)
- Official transcripts
Military students are required to provide their service information and international students will need to submit an English proficiency exam.
Once you have created an account and submitted your application, it make take about two weeks to hear back from an academic advisor about the next steps in the enrollment process.
Fees
If you attend class online, you will pay $449 per credit hour and in-person students will pay $339.
It takes 120 credit hours to finish a Bachelors degree whether you spend that time on campus or online, so online students will pay $53,880 in total and on-campus students will pay $40,680 upon graduation.
Military students pay a smaller fee of $250 per credit hour.
This adds up to $30,000 to complete a Bachelors degree.
Room and board will cost an additional $10,683 per year for on-campus students.
There may be some other fees to apply to the total cost of attendance, like:
- International application – $100
- Administrative fee – $300
- Course material – $1,830
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Galvin Rd. South Bellevue, NE 68005
- Phone: 800-756-7920
- Website: www.bellevue.edu
5University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
This large research university may be located in Wisconsin but it is perfect for South Dakota residents who are ready to expand their horizons.
Head to the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee to fulfill all your research and experimentation needs as you’ll get plenty of hands-on experience in labs and field work here.
Each class at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee is taught by renowned professors who take their job serious and have experience in the field that they teach.
Over 200 programs are offered here, but students are welcome to begin their journey to healthcare through the Public Health degree.
This Bachelors degree program is four years long and South Dakota residents will need to move to Wisconsin in order to fulfill the requirements as there are no online courses currently.
General education classes and biology, sociology, and other science related courses make up the 120 credit hours required to graduate.
As a Public Health program student, you will find yourself in evidence-based courses such as:
- Environmental Health and Disease
- Comparative Health Systems
- Statistical Thinking in Sociology
- Consuming and Communicating Quantitative Information
Don’t expect to spend the majority of your time sitting in a classroom though, students are given the opportunity to work in the field through internships, research, and co-op programs to fulfill degree requirements.
Once you have completed all of the necessary courses and research needed to gain as much knowledge in Public Health as possible, you will be on your way to securing a life-long career in Public Health such as:
- Data Manager
- Preparedness Coordinator
- Risk Assessor
- Public Health Analyst
Enrollment
If you want to apply to the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee all you’ll need to do is head to the school’s website.
You won’t even need to submit an application fee, right now it is free to apply.
One of the important pieces of information you will need to note is that there are several campuses for the University of Wisconsin, so if you are interested in the one in Milwaukee, you will need to indicate that on your application.
The application requirements vary by the type of degree that you are going to pursue, so contacting an academic advisor is the wise step in this situation.
After completing your application, it should take about two weeks to hear back on the status of your enrollment.
If you have been accepted, you can start to enroll for the courses that you will need in order to push you one step further toward graduation.
Fees
Wisconsin residents who are first year students will have free tuition, other students will need to pay for their schooling.
After attending Wisconsin for a year, in-state students will pay $9,610 per year.
If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you will also pay $9,610 per year, plus additional fees.
A few of the fees associated with tuition at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee include:
- Housing – $6,700
- Meal Plans – $4,190
- Books – $800
Since it takes four years to earn a Bachelors degree, it will cost about$21,306 per year for non-residents, or $85,224 in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 2200 East Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211
- Phone: 414-229-2222
- Website: www.uwm.edu
6University of Cincinnati
A degree from Ohio may sound like a long shot for South Dakota residents, but don’t fret because this campus provides online education for those who don’t want to move to campus.
However, if you do want to earn your degree in-person you can do so at this large public school.
For those who want a college experience like you see in the movies, definitely heading to Cincinnati to study at this top five school in the United States.
Rich in research and internship programs, the University of Cincinnati is the perfect place to gain hands-on experience within one of the many undergraduate programs.
Healthcare careers are in abundance right now, and those who have a knack for science, helping their communities, and loving their planet can get started with a Public Health Bachelors degree.
As a four year degree, students will first start learning general education and then begin taking classes specialized for their degree like:
- Communicating About Health, Environment and Science
- First Year Foundations in Public Health
- Health Across the Lifespan
- Research Methods in Health Sciences
Each student will gain insight with internships, research opportunities and even the possibility to join the Global Health Brigade.
Completing a degree at the University of Cincinnati is a great way to fulfill your career goals in Public Health with roles that could include:
- Grant Writer
- Accreditation Coordinator
- Health Information Specialist
- Epidemiologist
Enrollment
Transfer students, international students, homeschool graduates, and first year freshman are all invited to apply to the University of Cincinnati.
The first thing that you will want to do when looking into enrolling at the University of Cincinnati is talk to an academic advisor.
They can lead you down the right path for your degree program and also give you a campus tour so that you can be assured you are going to the school of your dreams.
In order to complete your application, you’ll want to head to the website and begin filling out your personal information.
A non-refundable $50 application fee is required at the time of submitting.
Along with that, you’ll want to provide some important paperwork, like:
- Official high school transcripts or transcripts from previous education if you are transferring
- ACT or SAT scores
- Letter of recommendation
It will take about two weeks to hear back on whether you have been admitted or not, and once you have you’ll get to enroll in the right classes for your degree.
Fees
Full-time Ohio residents pay $13,176 per year to attend the University of Cincinnati.
This comes out to about $52,704 after earning a Bachelors degree.
Online students will pay a little more at $13,536 per year, for a total of $54,144 upon graduation.
Those who attend the University of Cincinnati from out of state will pay $28,510 per year.
This adds up to $114,040 after four years and completing your Bachelors degree.
Residents of Indiana or Kentucky will pay a price of $13,776 per year to attend for a total of $55,104 after a four year program.
Contact Information
- Address: 2600 Clifton Ave. Cincinatti, OH 45221
- Phone: 513-556-0000
- Website: www.uc.edu
7Southern New Hampshire University
The last fully online school on our list is Southern New Hampshire University.
Yes, New Hampshire is quite far from South Dakota, but you won’t need to pack your bags or travel there as there are no physical classes to attend.
Everything that you need to do, including purchasing books, can be done right online at this school.
This private university has been providing great online education since the late 1900’s and will continue to do so, especially with more online options opening up around the world.
If you plan to work in healthcare, a degree from Southern New Hampshire University is a safe bet that you’ll receive an incredible accredited and inclusive education.
For those who want to help their communities with better healthcare options, a degree in Public Health is a perfect fit.
This four year program is designed to give students knowledge in biology and chemistry as well as disease prevention and control.
A few of the classes that you will be required to take in order to fulfill all the degree criteria are:
- Statistics for Healthcare Professionals
- Population Health and Cultural Competence
- Evaluation Methods in Public Health
- Biological Concepts for Public Health
Even though this is an online degree, students will still need to fulfill their internships in a local healthcare facility or government agency in order to earn a degree.
Hands-on experience and knowledge in the real-world will get you far in Public Health, especially in careers like:
- Medical Services Manager
- Health Education Specialist
- Community Health Worker
- Youth Outreach Coordinator
Enrollment
There is no application fee to apply to Southern New Hampshire University.
All prospective students need to do is head over to the website and find the admissions tab.
Once there, you can fill out the application which is quick and easy to do.
Along with your application, you will need to submit the following information:
- Transcripts from previous education or high school
- Proof of GED if applicable
The great thing about Southern New Hampshire University is that students can choose their own start date and there are no late application fees.
Fees
It costs $330 per credit hour to attend this school, and annually that comes out to about $9,900 for full time students.
Military students pay a reduced fee of $231 per credit hour for a yearly cost of $6,930.
At Southern New Hampshire State University the average Bachelors degree takes four years to complete, which means tuition can range from $27,720 for military student to $39,600 for civilian students.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 North River Rd. Manchester, NH 03016
- Phone: 800-915-7648
- Website: www.snhu.edu
8Carroll College
Montana offers a great liberal arts university known as Carroll College.
With a campus in Helena, Montana, you’ll need to move there from South Dakota in order to reap the benefits of the degree, but you won’t miss home long as it is an adventure every day on campus and around town.
While this is a Catholic school, you do not need to be Catholic in order to attend as this is also a diverse and inclusive community.
There are over 100 programs to choose from when considering a Bachelors degree from Carroll College, and among them is the Public Health degree that teaches students how to use health promotion to make communities better.
Within the program, you will learn how to maintain good health for individuals and communities as well as implement health programs and disease prevention modules.
Courses that are offered at Carroll College for this program include:
- Foundations of Cell and Molecular Biology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Environmental Ethics
- Gardening and Community Health
You won’t just sit in a classroom all day at Carroll College, you’ll get the chance to use your knowledge in field work, internship, and volunteer opportunities throughout the four year stay.
Real-life experience will get you far with a degree from Carroll College, especially once you graduate and have access to hundreds of Public Health careers such as:
- Public Health Officer
- Health Promotion Specialist
- Wellness Coach
- Medical Resource Manager
Enrollment
You won’t need to spend any money in order to apply to Carroll College.
In fact, you won’t even need to submit your ACT or SAT test scores.
All you’ll need to do is head over to the school’s website to fill out your personal information to begin your journey.
Some of the important information that you’ll need in order to submit your application includes:
- High school transcripts or previous education transcripts for transfer students
- Letter of recommendation
That’s it, once you have submitted all of that it should take a couple of weeks to hear back from an academic advisor about the next steps in the process of enrollment.
Fees
Each year, students at Carroll College will pay $39,152 in basic tuition costs.
Those who plan to use room and board amenities will pay an extra $11,212 per year.
If you do not plan to live and eat on campus, after four years and earning a Bachelors degree, you will end up paying $156,608.
However, if you do plan to use room and board, you will pay $201,456.
Scholarships and financial aid are available for all students who come to Carroll College.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 North Benton Ave. Helena, MT 59625
- Phone: 800-992-3648
- Website: www.carroll.edu
9University of Missouri-Kansas City
You could be among some fantastic alumni with a degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
The school boasts Guggenheim Fellows, Pulitzer Prize winners and even an American president among its history, which is nothing to scoff at, thats for sure.
Both online and on-campus options are available here, so you won’t even need to leave South Dakota if you’d rather stay in your home state.
Options for in-person and online learning are available for hundreds of degree programs, including Public Health, at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Either way, you will receive the same education in courses that equip you to create and implement programs to help communities with healthcare.
Several of the courses that you will take at the University of Missouri in Kansas City will be based in evidence and science, such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Diversity in Health
- Epidemiology
- Biology
You will also gain hands-on experience through research opportunities and even internships that can lead you to beginning a successful career.
Once you have completed the four year program, you will be on your way to a life-long role in any of the following careers and beyond:
- Wellness Coordinator
- Community Outreach Manager
- Health Policy Maker
- Emergency Management Director
Enrollment
The first thing you’ll want to do when considering enrollment at the University of Missouri in Kansas City is to head over to the website to find their application.
When you get there, you will notice that there are applications for incoming freshman, transfer students, international students, and even graduate students.
If you have never gone to college before, you’ll want to choose first year freshman, so that you can get all the benefits you need.
Transfer and international students will use their respective portals, to insure that all of their information is correct and accepted.
The application process for this school is fairly simple, you will just need to fill out your information and include some important paperwork like:
- ACT or SAT scores
- Transcripts from high school or previous education
At this time, there is no application fee to apply to this school, and it should only take about two weeks to hear back.
There are some deadlines you’ll want to consider, so take a look at the website as they are subject to change.
Fees
For students who are from Missouri, the average yearly tuition cost is $11,287.
This adds up to $45,148 after four years of education
If you are from out of state, you’ll pay about $27,760 per year to attend
As it takes four years to complete a Bachelors degree, the average out of state graduate pays $111,040 to attend this school.
This does not include room and board, which come out to about $16,484 per year.
If you choose to live on campus, you’ll pay $65,936 after four years of room and board.
Books typically cost about $814 per year.
There are scholarships and financial aid available to all students who attend the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Contact Information
- Address: 1464 Charlotte St. Kansas City, MO 64108
- Phone: 816-235-1000
- Website: www.umkc.edu
10University of Nebraska-Omaha
You’ll want to attend the University of Nebraska in Omaha for its gorgeous landscape, but you’ll want to stay for the incredible education you’ll receive here.
South Dakota residents will need to move in order to fulfill their degree requirements here, as there are only in-person campuses right now.
With over 15,000 students roaming the campus each year and hundreds of extracurriculars, you will never be bored at this public university.
Leading in innovation and research in the state of Nebraska, South Dakota residents can enjoy the benefits of this four year university within the Public Health Program.
Study ways to create a safer and healthier community with 120 credit hours of biology, sociology, and general education courses.
The Public Health degree offers classes that are comprehensive and evidence-based such as:
- Foundations in Public Health
- Environmental Biology
- Health Literacy
- Methods and Materials in Health Education
Not only will you get access to classrooms but you will learn how to do hands-on experiments and research in labs and facilities throughout campus.
It is important to maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to stay in this program, so study hard and do your best.
If you do that and stick around for four years, you will be a perfect match for some of these great Public Health careers after graduation:
- Head Start Health Specialist
- Health Education Programmer
- Health Journalist
- Public Health Inspector
Enrollment
The University of Nebraska in Omaha accepts all kinds of students from first year freshman, to transfer students, and even military and international learners.
It is advised that you contact an academic advisor before submitting your application to enroll here, so that the knowledgeable staff can help you on every step of your journey.
You may also want to set up a campus tour to ensure that the University of Nebraska is the right place for you.
Once you have decided that this is the school of your dreams, you will need to fill out the application on the school’s website.
There is a $45 non-refundable application fee for all applicants here.
Along with your application, it is important that you submit the following documents in order for your application to be complete:
- Transcripts from high school or previous education
- ACT or SAT scores
It should take about a week or two to hear back from the school on whether you have been accepted or not.
If you have been accepted, you will be invited to enroll in the classes that you need to take in order to fulfill your degree program.
Fees
Tuition at this school is divided up by credit hour.
This means that each class you take costs a certain amount of money.
Each credit hour here costs $235.
Since it takes about 120 credit hours to fulfill a Bachelors degree, the average Nebraska resident four year graduate will pay $28,200.
People who come from out of state will pay $738 per credit hour.
This means that after graduation, non-residents will pay $88,560 to attend the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
Housing and food are a yearly expense of $1,120 for a total of $11,610.
Military students will pay $250 per credit hour, which adds up to about $30,000 upon graduation.
Contact Information
- Address: 6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68182
- Phone: 402-554-2800
- Website: www.unomaha.edu
Final Thoughts
South Dakota provides one on-campus university in the state, but there are many great opportunities both online and in-person in the surrounding states.
We hope this list has narrowed down your options for you within the Public Health specialization.
