South Dakota State University
Sd · Public · 100% graduation rate
South Dakota State University is a public university in Sd with a 100% graduation rate. We track 20 majors with debt-to-earnings ROI analysis. The highest-ROI major is Statistics (grade A), with median debt of $22K and year-5 earnings of $126K. Data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and NCES IPEDS.
ROI by Major
Debt and earnings data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. ROI grades compare median student debt at graduation to earnings 1 and 5 years after completion, adjusted for NCES IPEDS graduation rates.
| Major | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics | $22K | $78K | $126K | A | STRONG BUY |
| Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | $129K | A | STRONG BUY |
| Civil Engineering | $22K | $92K | $129K | A | STRONG BUY |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $26K | $65K | $89K | B | BUY |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $29K | $62K | $86K | B | BUY |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $29K | $62K | $86K | B | BUY |
| Biology | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Air Transportation | $26K | $55K | $75K | B | BUY |
| Animal Sciences | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Psychology | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Agriculture | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $26K | $50K | $68K | B | BUY |
| Plant Sciences | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $26K | $48K | $65K | B | BUY |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26K | $42K | $58K | C | BUY |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26K | $45K | $61K | C | BUY |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $26K | $45K | $60K | C | BUY |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $26K | $42K | $57K | C | BUY |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $26K | $45K | $60K | C | BUY |
| Design and Applied Arts | $27K | $42K | $57K | C | BUY |
Similar Schools in Sd
How South Dakota State University Compares
South Dakota State University graduates carry a median debt of $26K across tracked majors, which is $161 less than the public universities average of $26K. Year-1 earnings average $56K, about $3K below peers of the same type. Within Sd, the per-major debt average is $24K, so this school sits $1K above the state median. Its composite ROI score of 70 is 2 points below the public universities baseline (72). Graduation rate of 100% is a primary ROI driver, since it determines how many students actually reach the earnings levels listed. Across the full site (2202 schools), the debt average is $26K.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your major. The highest-ROI major at South Dakota State University earns a grade of A, with median debt of $22K and year-5 earnings of $126K. Compare debt-to-earnings ratios across majors before deciding.
South Dakota State University has a 100% graduation rate. A higher graduation rate generally correlates with better student support and outcomes, which can impact your return on investment.
Median debt varies significantly by major at South Dakota State University. For example, Statistics graduates have median debt of $22K. Review the ROI by Major table above for a full breakdown.
The top-earning major is Statistics with median year-5 earnings of $126K. We rank each major by its debt-to-earnings ROI score to help you compare options.
Explore College ROI Data
ROI scores are calculated by comparing median debt at graduation to median earnings 1 and 5 years after completion, weighted by graduation rate. Grades range from A (strong return) to F (poor return).