Graduates of Black Hills State University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,243, placing Black Hills State University in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,087 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Black Hills State University in the 36.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Black Hills State University #1156 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering the regional labor market. Black Hills State University's program portfolio centers on education and teacher preparation, with Education representing the dominant field. Business Administration is the largest program with 71 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,626, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 56 students earning $44,958, while Biology, General with 27 graduates reaches $40,967. These teaching-focused majors anchor the institution's mission and provide stable, in-demand career pathways in rural and regional school districts across the Upper Midwest.
Graduates of Black Hills State University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,243, placing Black Hills State University in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,087 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Black Hills State University in the 36.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Black Hills State University #1156 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering the regional labor market. Black Hills State University's program portfolio centers on education and teacher preparation, with Education representing the dominant field. Business Administration is the largest program with 71 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,626, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 56 students earning $44,958, while Biology, General with 27 graduates reaches $40,967. These teaching-focused majors anchor the institution's mission and provide stable, in-demand career pathways in rural and regional school districts across the Upper Midwest.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Black Hills State University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,243, placing Black Hills State University in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,087 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Black Hills State University in the 36.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Black Hills State University #1156 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering the regional labor market. Black Hills State University's program portfolio centers on education and teacher preparation, with Education representing the dominant field. Business Administration is the largest program with 71 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,626, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 56 students earning $44,958, while Biology, General with 27 graduates reaches $40,967. These teaching-focused majors anchor the institution's mission and provide stable, in-demand career pathways in rural and regional school districts across the Upper Midwest.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Black Hills State University's program mix is anchored in education and teacher-preparation fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving South Dakota. Business Administration is the largest program with 71 graduates annually, followed by Teacher Education, Biology, General, Psychology, General, and Kinesiology. Across 0 ranked programs, the institution serves approximately 383 students annually. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's education-focused portfolio. Business Administration leads with median earnings of $59,626 four years after enrollment, followed by Kinesiology at $55,622, Subject-Specific Teacher Education at $52,883, Communication and Media Studies at $45,537, and Teacher Education at $44,958. The concentration in Education — representing 21% of graduates — aligns with strong regional demand for educators and school administrators across rural and small-town South Dakota labor markets. Several of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles immediately after completion. Education and teacher-preparation fields represent high-mobility careers within regional labor markets, where hiring demand remains consistent and career progression is predictable. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional workforce needs and long-term employment stability.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Black Hills State University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,243, placing Black Hills State University in the 9.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,087 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Black Hills State University in the 36.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Black Hills State University #1156 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect solid long-term financial returns for graduates entering the regional labor market. Black Hills State University's program portfolio centers on education and teacher preparation, with Education representing the dominant field. Business Administration is the largest program with 71 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,626, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 56 students earning $44,958, while Biology, General with 27 graduates reaches $40,967. These teaching-focused majors anchor the institution's mission and provide stable, in-demand career pathways in rural and regional school districts across the Upper Midwest.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
