Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
South Dakota State University is a public national university located in Brookings, South Dakota. South Dakota State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at South Dakota State University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $49,845 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in South Dakota, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, South Dakota State University bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average. South Dakota State University is ranked 2nd in South Dakota.
South Dakota State University’s median net annual cost of $18,578 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at South Dakota State University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Animal Sciences., Biology, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Bus. and Mgmt. - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$18,578
Average years to graduate
4.7
Civil Engineering
Rank: #156
Economic score: 2.47
Plant Sciences
Rank: #6
Economic score: 2.61
Consumer Economics
Rank: #8
Economic score: 4.42
Health & Fitness
Rank: #144
Economic score: 5.19
Wildlife science Mgmt.
Rank: #9
Economic score: 5.36
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #172
Economic score: 5.57
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #151
Economic score: 6.79
Sociology
Rank: #260
Economic score: 8.82
Human Development & Family
Rank: #64
Economic score: 9.57
Education
Rank: #468
Economic score: 11.58
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at South Dakota State University - Clinical / Counseling Psych, Student Counseling, Registered Nursing - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 58% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at South Dakota State University is 8% higher than the state average, and 10% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At South Dakota State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 18% of the measured graduating class, 17% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at South Dakota State University graduates within 4.8 years.
South Dakota State University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
South Dakota State University’s economic mobility score of 9.05 is calculated by adjusting the 3.68 economic score of lower-income students by the 18% pell grant recipients within the student body. South Dakota State University’s EMS of 9.05 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at South Dakota State University pays $18,578 a year, $3,898 less than the $22,476 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $18,578
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At South Dakota State University, 81% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $18,578 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 61% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,767. This is 7% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,063
Pell grants
$4,429
State grants
$1,367
Institutional grants
$2,971
South Dakota State University offers 10 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level South Dakota State University offers 18 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
28
Hybrid programs
28
Percentage of programs online
19%
South Dakota State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 87% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 5,774 applicants, of which 5,048 were admitted and 2,019 enrolled. South Dakota State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
87%
83%
Female
56%
59%
First time
74%
59%
In-state
53%
68%
1st generation
20%
35%
White
88%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
2%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%