Dakota State University

Dakota State University's program mix is anchored in computer science and information technology — a signature shaped by the institution's regional identity as a public comprehensive university with deep expertise in cybersecurity and applied computing. Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management is the largest program with 117 graduates, followed by Artificial Intelligence, Computer Software, Special Education and Teaching, and Teacher Education.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 339 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in technology and applied-professional fields. Artificial Intelligence leads the earnings profile, with 55 graduates earning median earnings of $85,696 four years after enrollment.

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management graduates earn $78,637, and Business Administration graduates earn $69,841 — a pattern reflecting the institution's concentration in high-demand technical fields where employers recruit actively and starting salaries remain competitive. The largest programs by enrollment — Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management and Artificial Intelligence — also deliver solid four-year earnings of $78,637 and $85,696 respectively, combining scale with economic return.

Dakota State University's program portfolio reflects a direct-to-workforce orientation where most graduates enter the labor market immediately after completion rather than pursuing graduate or professional school. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) shows sustained employer demand for the technical and applied-business skills that dominate Dakota State University's degree output, supporting both early-career earnings and longer-term career mobility in regional and national technology markets.

Dakota State University's published cost of attendance is $25,753. Net price by income band reflects the university's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $17,317, middle-income families pay around $19,165, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,269.

Azimuth ranks Dakota State University #665 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Dakota State's affordability position reflects both the institution's modest sticker price and the aid available to qualifying students. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, with need-based aid closing a meaningful share of the gap between published cost and what families actually pay.

For students in computer science and related technical fields — Dakota State's dominant program families — strong early-career earnings help offset any debt carried at graduation. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,085; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,160, median federal debt of $23,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $266 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Dakota State University earn median 4-year earnings of $63,160, placing the institution in the 63.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,439 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dakota State University in the 64.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Dakota State University #613 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on Computer Science, which drives both enrollment scale and strong financial outcomes.

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management is the largest program with 117 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,637, and Azimuth ranks the program [#1 nationally](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment. The Artificial Intelligence program graduates 55 students earning median 4-year earnings of $85,696, while Computer Software and Special Education and Teaching round out the top programs with 34 and 22 graduates respectively.

This concentration in high-earning technical fields explains Dakota State University's strong overall return profile and positions graduates for sustained career growth in competitive labor markets.