National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 7/100 · Poor Value
National American University-Rapid City is a private for-profit institution scoring 7 out of 100 on the CampusROI scale -- one of the weakest scores in the entire database. Every input is alarming: completion rate is reported as 0 (sub-score 0), the payback period is 113.7 years (sub-score 9), the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.93 (sub-score 7), the earnings premium over high-school grads is just 1.9% (sub-score 9), and only 49% of borrowers are reducing principal at three years (sub-score 8). The cost picture is the most damning element: while sticker tuition is a moderate $16,065, the average net price is $31,062 -- nearly double sticker, an unusual pattern that suggests living-cost components and modest institutional aid. The four-year total cost works out to about $124,248. Median debt at graduation is $29,020 against just $37,325 of 10-year median earnings. The bottom line is that this is a school where, on the published data, the financial math is not workable for nearly any student profile, and the for-profit operating model has historically been associated with marketing-driven enrollment that does not map to graduate outcomes.
The data raises concerns about National American University-Rapid City
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score7/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate0.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
National American University-Rapid City
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,065/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,065/yr |
| Average net price | $31,062/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $124,248 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,325 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $29,020 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $308 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 0.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 764 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at National American University-Rapid City is $16,065/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $31,062/year, or roughly $124,248 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $31,062/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $29,020 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $308 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $37,325 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.93 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $31,062 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $31,062 net annually -- the only income bracket with reported data, suggesting the student body is overwhelmingly low-income. Over four years that is roughly $124,000 of cost, which against $37,325 of 10-year median earnings produces math that is essentially unworkable. Pell aid plus federal loans cover only a fraction of this, leaving large gaps that for-profit institutions historically fill with high-rate private loans.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price data for the $30,001-$110,000 income brackets is not reported, suggesting either too few students in those tiers to publish or aid policies that do not vary materially by income. The implication is that middle-income families considering NAU-Rapid City should expect to pay close to the published $31,062 figure with limited additional aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price for the $110,001-plus bracket is unreported, again suggesting negligible enrollment from this tier. At full pay or near full pay, this institution offers no defensible ROI case versus regional public alternatives in South Dakota or neighboring Wyoming/Nebraska.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at National American University-Rapid City with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,756 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $52,803 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $47,907 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $64,936 | F |
| Accounting | $52,215 | F |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $58,897 | - |
| Human Resources Management | $67,025 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $83,078 | D |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest program at 47 graduates per year. Graduates earn $48,827 at one year and $57,756 at four years against $46,575 of debt -- a 0.95 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings are reasonable in absolute terms, but the debt load is extraordinarily high (well above the campus-wide $29,020 median) and consumes nearly the entire annual earnings figure. Public alternatives in South Dakota carry far less debt for similar earnings.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administration is the second-largest cohort at 21 graduates per year. Graduates earn $45,392 at one year and $52,803 at four years against $52,058 of debt -- a 1.15 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. Debt exceeds annual earnings, which is structurally unsustainable on a 10-year repayment plan and forces graduates into income-driven plans where principal grows.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn $52,129 at one year and $64,936 at four years -- the strongest earnings on campus -- but carry $53,229 of debt, producing a 1.02 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. Even the best earnings outcomes at NAU-Rapid City are wiped out by debt loads, which is a structural problem with the for-profit cost model rather than a labor-market issue.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates earn $45,720 at one year and $47,907 at four years against $51,547 of debt -- a 1.13 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. With 12 graduates per year, this cohort exits with debt that exceeds annual earnings. Public criminal justice careers (police, corrections) are notoriously credit-flexible, meaning the debt premium for attending NAU versus a community college path is essentially uncompensated.
Accounting
Accounting graduates earn $35,820 at one year and $52,215 at four years against $41,344 of debt -- a 1.15 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. Accounting nationally is one of the more reliable bachelor's-level ROI tracks; the F grade here reflects the school's cost structure, not the major's underlying labor-market value. A South Dakota State or USD accounting degree would produce dramatically better math.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 39.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 49.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 33.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 41.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 764 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,111 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, which is typical for for-profit institutions that operate continuous open enrollment. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are likewise unreported. The implication is that academic preparation is not screened in any meaningful way at the front door, which is consistent with the reported 0% completion rate and signals high financial risk for incoming students who borrow to enroll.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The CampusROI peer set includes American InterContinental University-Atlanta, Salem University (WV), The College of Westchester (NY), Provo College (UT), and Eastern International College-Jersey City. All are for-profit or career-focused institutions, and all post weak ROI scores. NAU-Rapid City is at or below the bottom of this group on most ROI inputs, particularly completion rate and net price. None of these peers is a strong relative benchmark; they are simply the closest analog institutions by operating model.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| National American University-Rapid City (this school) | 7 | $31,062 | $37,325 |
| South University-Montgomery | 7 | $27,807 | $34,421 |
| American InterContinental University-Atlanta | 7 | $16,482 | $36,144 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | 7 | $27,843 | $34,421 |
| South University-Savannah Online | 7 | $28,049 | $34,421 |
| South University-Austin | 7 | $25,680 | $34,421 |
Who Thrives Here
With 764 students and a 57.1% Pell rate, NAU-Rapid City serves a heavily Pell-eligible adult-learner population. Outcomes suggest the strongest path is the institution's nursing track ($83,078 four-year earnings, but with $52,969 of debt and zero graduates reported in the most recent year). Most other programs post F-grade ROI metrics. The honest fit assessment: students considering this school should compare it carefully against South Dakota public alternatives like Black Hills State University and Western Dakota Tech, both of which deliver materially better cost-to-outcomes math.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about National American University-Rapid City. With a net cost of $31,062 per year and median graduate earnings of only $37,325 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 0.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $29,020 against $37,325 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.