University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota · Public

Of 45 assessed programs, 43 leave graduates out-earning a typical South Dakota high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 115 could not be assessed.

What would this cost you?

My family earns and I expect to take

Family income	Net price per year
Under $30k	$14,921
$30k to $48k	$15,942
$48k to $75k	$18,540
$75k to $110k	$21,202
$110k and up	$22,193
All families (average)	$19,858

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). It reflects students who received federal aid.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

45 of 160 programs could be assessed 28% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical South Dakota high-school graduate.
Program	Degree	Median earnings	vs a high-school grad	Verdict	Median debt	Years to repay	Recent completers
Nursing	Bachelor's Degree	$73,025	+$36,049	clears the bar	$24,966	0.7 yrs	163
Teacher Education (by level)	Bachelor's Degree	$46,034	+$9,058	clears the bar	$25,500	2.8 yrs	100
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Master's Degree	$57,591	+$20,615	clears the bar	$29,750	1.4 yrs	89
Law	First Professional Degree	$83,195	+$46,219	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	85
Health Sciences	Bachelor's Degree	$61,518	+$24,542	clears the bar	$21,125	0.9 yrs	78
Business Administration	Bachelor's Degree	$64,890	+$27,914	clears the bar	$20,824	0.7 yrs	75
Business Administration	Master's Degree	$109,366	+$72,390	clears the bar	$25,845	0.4 yrs	73
Biology	Bachelor's Degree	$58,099	+$21,123	clears the bar	$21,843	1.0 yrs	69
Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	$50,993	+$14,017	clears the bar	$23,625	1.7 yrs	66
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Bachelor's Degree	$52,211	+$15,235	clears the bar	$25,850	1.7 yrs	66
Medicine	First Professional Degree	$126,911	+$89,935	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	64
Physical and Occupational Therapy	First Professional Degree	$72,528	+$35,552	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	58
Communications and Media	Bachelor's Degree	$52,100	+$15,124	clears the bar	$23,625	1.6 yrs	56
Accounting	Bachelor's Degree	$71,179	+$34,203	clears the bar	$22,750	0.7 yrs	55
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$50,306	+$13,330	clears the bar	$21,125	1.6 yrs	53
Educational Administration	Master's Degree	$72,032	+$35,056	clears the bar	$18,500	0.5 yrs	48
Finance	Bachelor's Degree	$70,100	+$33,124	clears the bar	$20,500	0.6 yrs	46
Criminal Justice	Bachelor's Degree	$58,046	+$21,070	clears the bar	$21,500	1.0 yrs	40
Marketing	Bachelor's Degree	$55,261	+$18,285	clears the bar	$23,488	1.3 yrs	40
Dental Assisting and Hygiene	Bachelor's Degree	$68,556	+$31,580	clears the bar	$26,000	0.8 yrs	37
Counseling Psychology	Master's Degree	$57,716	+$20,740	clears the bar	$41,595	2.0 yrs	28
Political Science	Bachelor's Degree	$61,362	+$24,386	clears the bar	$26,000	1.1 yrs	28
Human Services	Master's Degree	$86,703	+$49,727	clears the bar	$34,542	0.7 yrs	27
Special Education	Bachelor's Degree	$45,415	+$8,439	clears the bar	$25,000	3.0 yrs	26
Accounting	Master's Degree	$85,964	+$48,988	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	26
Allied Health Diagnostics and Treatment	Master's Degree	$123,612	+$86,636	clears the bar	$112,617	1.3 yrs	25
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Master's Degree	$57,931	+$20,955	clears the bar	$44,897	2.1 yrs	19
Healthcare Administration	Bachelor's Degree	$74,816	+$37,840	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	19
Public Health	Master's Degree	$54,328 1-year earnings	+$17,352	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	19
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Bachelor's Degree	$64,069	+$27,093	clears the bar	$22,000	0.8 yrs	18
Teacher Education (by subject)	Bachelor's Degree	$50,270	+$13,294	clears the bar	$25,500	1.9 yrs	16
Public Administration	Master's Degree	$87,275	+$50,299	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Theatre	Bachelor's Degree	$33,852 1-year earnings	-$3,124	falls short	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Economics	Bachelor's Degree	$71,463	+$34,487	clears the bar	$20,250	0.6 yrs	14
Educational Administration	Doctoral Degree	$105,958	+$68,982	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Fine Arts	Bachelor's Degree	$43,945	+$6,969	clears the bar	$27,000	3.9 yrs	13
English	Bachelor's Degree	$31,155	-$5,821	falls short	$25,000	insufficient data	8
History	Bachelor's Degree	$45,096	+$8,120	clears the bar	$25,000	3.1 yrs	8
Teacher Education (by level)	Master's Degree	$54,349	+$17,373	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Music	Master's Degree	$46,183 1-year earnings	+$9,207	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Teacher Education (by subject)	Master's Degree	$62,804	+$25,828	clears the bar	$16,457	0.6 yrs	0
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$64,104	+$27,128	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Social Work	Master's Degree	$60,964	+$23,988	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Nursing	Associate's Degree	$63,700	+$26,724	clears the bar	$14,947	0.6 yrs	0
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Doctoral Degree	$70,000	+$33,024	clears the bar	$115,835	3.5 yrs	insufficient data
Kinesiology and Physical Education	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	59
Kinesiology and Physical Education	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	23
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Associate's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	21
Management Science	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Computer and Information Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Anthropology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Computer and Information Science	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Sustainability Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Special Education	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Neuroscience	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Chemistry	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Health Sciences	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Health Sciences	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Medical Laboratory Science	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Philosophy	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Music	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Communications and Media	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Curriculum and Instruction	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
International/Globalization Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Psychology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Business Administration	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Management Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Chemistry	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Sociology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Business Administration	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Human Resources	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Teacher Education (by level)	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
English	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Sustainability Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Psychology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Public Relations and Advertising	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Mathematics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Sustainability Studies	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Physics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Counseling Psychology	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Design	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Fine Arts	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Educational/Instructional Media Design	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
English	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Mathematics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Materials Sciences	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians	Associate's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Anthropology	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Design	Associate's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Theatre	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Management Science	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	2
Biomedical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Biomedical Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Biomedical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Sustainability Studies	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Physics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Psychology	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Counseling Psychology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Public Administration	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Political Science	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Healthcare Administration	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
History	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	1
Communications and Media	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Curriculum and Instruction	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
School Counseling	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
School Counseling	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Teacher Education (by subject)	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Engineering-Related Fields	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Biological and Physical Sciences	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Museology/Museum Studies	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Geology and Earth Science	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Physics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Anthropology	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Political Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Sociology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Music	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Dental Assisting and Hygiene	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Public Health	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Physical and Occupational Therapy	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Human Resources	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Management Information Systems	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Marketing	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	0
Computer and Information Science	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Computer and Information Science	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Non-Professional Legal Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Biology	Associate's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($36,976/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.