Law & Justice Degrees in South Dakota

Guide to South Dakota Law and Justice Degree Programs

The state of South Dakota offers some options for those seeking a law and justice degree. Part of the Plains states, it is mainly rural in nature and its economy is dominated by agriculture. Many of the remote rural counties have been losing population due to rural flight. Other counties have been gaining population to counter this. Around the urban areas of Sioux City and Rapid City, the populations are anticipated to continue growing. The state has a constant influx of tourists with the presence of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.

Eight colleges and universities around the state offer classes towards degrees in law and justice. There are options for getting degrees at the associates and bachelor levels. Many classes can be found online for those that live in remote areas. These degrees can open job options in the area of corrections, law enforcement and law. The state has experienced a steady growth in its urban areas, so most options will be concentrated there. What can the Mount Rushmore State do for your degree needs?

South Dakota Law and Justice Job Outlook and Salary

South Dakota provides options for those with a law and justice degree. However, due to the range of jobs in this field, it is hard to give a comprehensive overview for each one. Let’s look at what a police officer would experience in this state. Due to the mainly rural nature of the state, many jobs involve patrolling large stretches of land. This is especially true for county sheriff’s deputies and state troopers. The larger urban areas have some inner city crime, but nothing like many other parts of the country. All officers provide protection for people and their property.

South Dakota is projected to have their demand for law enforcement officers much lower than the national average. According to the South Dakota Department of Labor, the need will grow by only 3% in the next decade. This is well below the national average of 11%. The state’s small population also means that the job pool is extremely shallow. On the wage scale, starting salaries can range from $23,000 to $26,000 annually. With a few years, an officer can expect to make around $34,000. This is well below national median levels as well. And those in smaller communities will usually offer less than this however. The best options would be concentrated in the larger urban areas near Sioux City and Rapid City.