Black Hills State University vs California Intercontinental University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Black Hills State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to California Intercontinental University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Black Hills State University at $24,327 vs California Intercontinental University at $19,816. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $50,750 vs $74,000.
| Metric | Black Hills State University | California Intercontinental University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Private |
| State | Sd | Sd |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $24,327 | $19,816* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $50,750 | $74,000* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 3 |
| Best ROI Major | Mathematics (96/100) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (98/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $20,730 | $17,129* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $78,000 | $95,000* |
Black Hills State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to California Intercontinental University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Black Hills State University at $24,327 vs California Intercontinental University at $19,816. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $50,750 vs $74,000.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $19,816 versus $24,327. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.
First-year earnings differ meaningfully: $74,000 at California Intercontinental University versus $50,750 at the lower-earning option. That gap usually traces back to the program mix being measured rather than a uniform school-wide premium; the comparison is more useful when you drill into the specific major you're considering at each school.
Both schools sit in Sd, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.