Early childhood education programs in South Dakota
1 early childhood program with costs, results and funding that can make it free
One school offers this early childhood education program, and South Dakota has approved it for workforce funding. It shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.
Childcare workers look after children's needs and help their early development. What they need varies by state and employer, from no formal education to a certificate in early childhood education; most often states ask for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which takes coursework, experience and a period of being observed working with children.1 The CDA takes a high school diploma or GED, 120 hours of early childhood education, 480 hours of work with the age group you choose within three years, a portfolio and the CDA exam.2
In South Dakota, the one program asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.
See the programHow much do early childhood education programs cost in South Dakota?
$16,065
is what this program costs if you pay yourself
This program
- Finished the program
- 47%
- Working 6 months later
- Left out
- South Dakota's rates sit far below every other state's
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $15,000
- Length
- 64 weeks
Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in South Dakota may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made
The one early childhood program in South Dakota approved for WIOA funding
Filters
1 program
Early Childhood Specialist | AAS | In-person
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$15,000Price if you pay yourself$16,065Program website, Early Childhood Specialist | AAS | In-person at Southeast Technical CollegeMore details about Early Childhood Specialist | AAS | In-person at Southeast Technical College
- Finished
- 47%
- Working at 6 months
- Left out
- Earned in a quarter
- $3,757
- Length
- 64 weeks, 17 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,500
- Students counted
- 65
- Earned a year, estimated
- $15,000
- Price if you pay yourself
- $16,065
No programs match these filters.
How to pay for early childhood education programs in South Dakota
WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in South Dakota
Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?
Financial aid and grants for early childhood education programs
Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78
GI Bill for early childhood education programs
Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9
The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.
Other training in South Dakota
How early childhood education programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in South Dakota
- CDL training13 programs
- CNA classes2 programs
- Medical assistant training4 programs
- Phlebotomy training4 programs
- Welding classes15 programs
- HVAC training5 programs
- Medical billing and coding training11 programs
- LPN programs7 programs
- EMT classes6 programs
- Electrician training4 programs
- Dental assistant programs4 programs
- Auto mechanic classes3 programs
- Pharmacy technician training1 program
- Plumbing school4 programs
- CNC machinist training5 programs
- Carpentry classes1 program
- Heavy equipment operator training2 programs
- Diesel mechanic training5 programs
- Cybersecurity training3 programs
- IT training13 programs
- Cosmetology school2 programs
- Barber school2 programs
- Surgical tech programs3 programs
- Culinary school1 program
- Human resources training4 programs
- Medication aide training1 program
- Industrial maintenance technician training5 programs
- Hospitality management programs2 programs
- Community health worker training2 programs
- Coding and software development courses5 programs
- Lineman school2 programs
- Sonography school3 programs
- Administrative assistant training4 programs
- Medical lab technician programs4 programs
- AutoCAD and drafting courses1 program
- Digital marketing courses2 programs
- Web and graphic design courses1 program
- Health information technology programs1 program
- Vet tech programs1 program
- Home inspector training1 program
- Healthcare administration programs1 program
- Cardiovascular technology programs1 program
- Human services programs1 program
- Manufacturing technician training2 programs
- Electronics technician training3 programs
- Business administration programs9 programs
- Criminal justice programs4 programs
- Auto body repair classes3 programs
- Solar and wind technician training1 program
- Construction training programs7 programs
- Accounting and bookkeeping classes11 programs
- RN programs5 programs
Where the South Dakota early childhood education program numbers come from
Which South Dakota early childhood education programs are on this list?
These are the early childhood education programs South Dakota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what South Dakota offers.
How the prices and results of South Dakota early childhood education programs are measured
Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.
How reliable are the South Dakota figures?
We leave out the share working 6 months later for South Dakota: its rates sit far below every other state's.
Sources for the facts about early childhood education programs in South Dakota
Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers
- Council for Professional Recognition: CDA Credentialing Process Overview (February 2026)
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
- US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List