Paralegal Studies · South Dakota
Paralegal Studies colleges in South Dakota
CampusPin lists 16 U.S. colleges in South Dakota that offer Paralegal Studies programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.
Paralegal Studies trains graduates to support attorneys with legal research, drafting, and case management, suiting detail-oriented students drawn to law without attending law school.
Schools in South Dakota that offer Paralegal Studies
Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD · University · Private
Tuition
$32,890
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
780
Kairos University
Sioux Falls, SD · University · Private
Tuition
$13,120
Acceptance
74%
Enrollment
1,105
Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, SD · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,718
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,710
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, SD · Community College · Public
Tuition
$7,524
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
953
Mount Marty University
Yankton, SD · University · Private
Tuition
$33,100
Acceptance
48%
Enrollment
920
National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD · University · Private
Tuition
$16,065
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,022
Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$8,845
Acceptance
93%
Enrollment
1,828
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$2,684
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,205
Sinte Gleska University
Mission, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$4,714
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
655
Sisseton Wahpeton College
Sisseton, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$4,330
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
209
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$10,400
Acceptance
85%
Enrollment
2,364
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$9,299
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
10,119
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, SD · Community College · Public
Tuition
$7,650
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
2,164
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD · University · Private
Tuition
$20,740
Acceptance
82%
Enrollment
1,491
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · University · Public
Tuition
$9,432
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
8,012
Western Dakota Technical College
Rapid City, SD · Community College · Public
Tuition
$8,008
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
733
Paralegal Studies programs in South Dakota: by the numbers
A quick comparison of the 16 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.
Schools listed
16
Public / private
11 / 5
Universities / 2-year
12 / 4
Cities represented
11
In-state tuition range
$2,684–$33,100
Median in-state tuition
$9,072
Lowest published in-state tuition
Oglala Lakota College
$2,684
Most selective
Mount Marty University
48% acceptance
Largest by enrollment
South Dakota State University
10,119 students
Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.
What you'll study in a Paralegal Studies program
- Legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, and primary sources
- Legal writing: memos, briefs, pleadings, and correspondence
- Civil litigation procedure and the stages of a lawsuit
- Substantive law: contracts, torts, property, and criminal law
- Legal ethics and the unauthorized-practice-of-law boundary
- Case management, document review, and e-discovery software
- Client interviewing, fact investigation, and evidence gathering
- Specialized practice areas such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law
Where a Paralegal Studies degree can lead
- Paralegals and legal assistants
- Litigation Paralegal
- Corporate Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
- Contract Administrator
- Compliance Specialist
Typical pay: BLS, 2024 paralegals and legal assistants median $61,010
A Paralegal Studies major covers legal research and writing, civil litigation and procedure, contract law, torts, legal ethics, and the use of case-management and e-discovery software. Programs are offered as both bachelor's degrees and shorter associate's or certificate tracks, and most include hands-on training in drafting pleadings, summarizing depositions, organizing case files, and interviewing clients under attorney supervision. Many bachelor's programs add concentrations such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law, and often require an internship at a law firm, court, corporate legal department, or government agency.
Paralegals (also called legal assistants) perform substantive legal work under the direction of a licensed attorney but cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for the occupation, so a four-year Paralegal Studies degree is more than the minimum credential and can support advancement into senior or specialized paralegal roles; those who later decide to practice law independently must complete a separate law degree (JD) and pass a state bar exam.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, and the occupation had a 2024 median annual wage of $61,010.
Paralegal Studies in other states
Find more Paralegal Studies schools
Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 16+ Paralegal Studies programs in South Dakota by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.