Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota · Public · 88.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Dakota State University scores 43 (Below Benchmark). Dakota State University is a small public institution in Madison, South Dakota, enrolling approximately 2,071 students with a distinctive focus on cybersecurity and information technology. The institution's technology focus creates meaningful asymmetry: computer science and IT administration graduates earn $58,000 - $63,000 one year out, while the institution-wide average of $35,400 is dragged down by lower-earning programs. The 51% completion rate is mediocre and the 86% three-year repayment rate is the institution's strongest metric, suggesting that students who borrow and graduate - particularly in tech - manage their debt responsibly. DSU's national designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by NSA and DHS gives its technology programs genuine credentialing value.
How Dakota State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score43/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Dakota State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,654/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,756/yr |
| Average net price | $21,057/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,228 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,970 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $249 |
| Estimated payback period | 14 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,071 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,654/year ($12,756/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $21,057/year, or roughly $84,228 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,317/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,269/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,500, which works out to about $249 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,400) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,317 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,792 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,165 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,601 |
| $110,001+ | $23,269 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $17,317. At this price, technology program graduates have a reasonable payback trajectory of seven to eight years based on CS earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $19,165 in net price. The institution's strong repayment rate (86% at three years) suggests that graduates across programs are managing debt, even in lower-earning fields. Technology students in this income tier face an excellent return; education and business students face a less compelling but still serviceable investment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay $23,269. At this price, the technology ROI case is still sound.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Dakota State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $78,637 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $85,696 | B |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $42,513 | F |
| Information Science | $56,991 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $41,119 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,997 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $46,095 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,841 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is DSU's anchor program with 62 graduates annually. One-year median earnings of $61,287 and four-year earnings of $85,696 are strong for a public institution in South Dakota. Against $23,000 in median debt, the ratio of 0.38 earns a B grade. Graduates benefit from DSU's NSA cybersecurity designation, which provides federal and defense contractor hiring pipelines not available at most regional public universities.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
IT Administration is DSU's largest tracked program with 119 graduates. One-year earnings of $58,166 and four-year earnings of $78,637 are solid. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 earns a B grade. This program directly addresses enterprise IT and network administration roles, with South Dakota's growing financial services and insurance technology sector providing regional employment demand. Graduates entering cybersecurity operations or network management find immediate job placement.
Information Science
Information Science graduates earn $63,636 one year out - slightly above the CS program's early earnings. Against $29,318 in median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 earns a C+ grade. Four-year earnings of $56,991 are oddly lower than year-one, suggesting data volatility in a small cohort of 19 graduates. Students should treat four-year figures cautiously and focus on the strong initial placement earnings.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates earn $46,627 one year out, plateauing near $48,997 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 earns a C grade. Teaching careers offer stability in South Dakota's rural school systems. At DSU's net price, the financial return for education majors is weaker than for technology students, but the program serves an important regional workforce need.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Dakota State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-760 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 2,071 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,954 |
DSU admitted 88% of applicants with an SAT math mid-range of 620 - 760 and reading of 570 - 680, with ACT composite of 20 - 27. Students targeting cybersecurity programs should prioritize strong math and logic backgrounds.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota State University (this school) | 43 | $21,057 | $50,970 |
| Wayne State College | 46 | $15,360 | $47,075 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | 45 | $12,220 | $49,606 |
| Northern State University | 41 | $15,812 | $47,618 |
| Lewis-Clark State College | 37 | $15,635 | $46,001 |
| Black Hills State University | 31 | $15,911 | $46,674 |
Who Thrives Here
DSU is a strong choice for students specifically committed to cybersecurity, IT administration, or computer science who want a public university price with a niche institutional identity. The 88% admission rate signals open access. With just 17% Pell recipients, the student body skews toward middle- and upper-income households. SAT math mid-range of 620 - 760 reflects a technically strong incoming class relative to enrollment size. Students outside the technology track face weaker financial outcomes and should evaluate whether DSU's rural South Dakota setting and limited non-tech program depth suit their goals.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Dakota State University scores 43/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $21,057 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $50,970 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 14 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 51.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Dakota State University: Common Questions
Is Dakota State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Dakota State University scores 43/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $21,057 a year after aid against $50,970 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 14 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Dakota State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,057 a year, or roughly $84,228 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Dakota State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $50,970 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,170 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Dakota State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 14 years for Dakota State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Dakota State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,500, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Dakota State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.