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Black Hills State University vs California Intercontinental University

Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data

Reviewed by CollegeROIData Editorial Team · Updated

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.

MetricBlack Hills State UniversityCalifornia Intercontinental University
Graduation Rate100.0%100.0%
School TypePublicPrivate
StateSdSd
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 Tracked203
Best ROI MajorMathematics (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.