University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota · Public · 98.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of South Dakota scores 50, landing in the Below Average Value tier. In-state tuition is just $9,432 (out-of-state $12,942), but net price runs $19,858 including living costs, putting total four-year cost at about $79,432. Average earnings six years after entry are $37,100 climbing to a median $51,926 by year ten, producing a 21.3% earnings premium (sub-score 45) and a 13-year payback period. Completion rate of 59.9% (sub-score 60) is solid by rural-public standards. The genuine strength is the 82.2% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 77), indicating graduates land in stable Midwest middle-class jobs. Median debt is $23,592 with a 0.636 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 43). USD's nursing and dental support programs are strong, and accounting, finance, and economics produce defensible B and C+ outcomes. The drag comes from a long tail of humanities and arts programs (English, History, Fine Arts) that produce weak earnings against the school's modest cost.
University of South Dakota
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,432/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,942/yr |
| Average net price | $19,858/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,432 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,926 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,592 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $250 |
| Estimated payback period | 13 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,439 |
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: $9,432/year ($12,942/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 $19,858/year, or roughly $79,432 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 $14,921/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,193/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,592, which works out to about $250 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,100) and comes to 0.64, 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 | $14,921 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,942 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,540 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,202 |
| $110,001+ | $22,193 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $14,921 net per year (about $59,684 over four years).
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-110,000) pay $18,540-$21,202 net per year, putting four-year cost at $74,000-$85,000. Against $37,100 six-year earnings, the math is tight but workable within the 13-year payback period. This is the modal USD student.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $22,193 per year ($88,772 over four years). Aid scaling between top and bottom brackets is only about $7,000/year - relatively flat.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of South Dakota with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,025 | B |
| Psychology | $50,993 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,890 | C+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $61,518 | C |
| Teacher Education | $46,034 | C |
| Biology | $58,099 | D |
| Accounting | $71,179 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $70,100 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,046 | C |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $52,211 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing posts 162 graduates, $71,758 year-one and $73,025 at year four, with a B grade; the flat year-one to year-four curve suggests most graduates work in South Dakota or rural Midwest hospitals where wages don't ramp as steeply as in metro markets.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 82 students with $31,696 first-year earnings and $50,993 by year four. Debt is $24,593 and debt-to-earnings is 0.776 for a D grade. Without graduate continuation, the bachelor's in psychology produces structurally weak earnings, common at most schools and not unique to USD.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 80 students with $47,107 first-year and $64,890 four-year earnings. Debt of $22,950 and debt-to-earnings of 0.487 yield a C+ grade. Solid regional business outcomes with a defensible debt position; this is one of the cleaner ROI cases at USD.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Allied Health graduates 77 students with $44,109 first-year and $61,518 four-year earnings. Debt is $27,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.612 for a C grade. This is a feeder into USD's strong health pipeline but with weaker outcomes than the focused RN or dental support tracks.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 75 students earning $43,790 in year one and $46,034 by year four - the classic flat teacher earnings curve. Debt of $27,000 and debt-to-earnings of 0.617 yield a C grade. The credential supports stable South Dakota school district employment but produces minimal earnings growth.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of South Dakota’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 | 98.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 595-695 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 5,439 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,264 |
USD admits 98.8% of applicants - effectively open admission. SAT mid-ranges are 595-695 (math) and 530-620 (reading) and ACT composite mid-range is 19-25. The very high math SAT 25th percentile is notable and suggests strong self-selection by college-ready South Dakota students despite the open-door policy. The 60% completion rate is well above what you would predict from a 99% admit rate, indicating either substantial self-screening or solid retention work.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota (this school) | 50 | $19,858 | $51,926 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| West Texas A & M University | 49 | $19,487 | $50,741 |
| Dakota State University | 43 | $21,057 | $50,970 |
| Black Hills State University | 31 | $15,911 | $46,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 5,439 with an 18.7% Pell rate. USD works well for in-state students entering its nursing (162 graduates) and dental support pipelines, where outcomes are strong. It also works for accounting and finance students entering the regional financial-services labor market. It works less well for students drawn to its liberal arts identity (English, History, Fine Arts), where the earnings ceiling pulls ROI to D and F grades.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of South Dakota is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $19,858 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,926 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,592 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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.
University of South Dakota: Common Questions
Is University of South Dakota worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of South Dakota scores 50/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,858 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,926 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of South Dakota 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 $19,858 a year, or roughly $79,432 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 University of South Dakota graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,926 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,126 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 University of South Dakota?
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 13 years for University of South Dakota. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of South Dakota graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,592, against average earnings of $37,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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 University of South Dakota?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.9%. 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.