Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #496 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $87,878, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 87.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology sits in the 94.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the strong financial outcomes its engineering-focused graduates achieve relative to similar students at comparable institutions. Students at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology achieve some of the strongest earnings outcomes in the Azimuth coverage set, driven by a concentrated engineering program mix that consistently delivers high early-career pay. The school's return on investment ranking and earnings-beyond-expectations standing together signal that graduates outperform what their academic and demographic profile would predict — a pattern that holds across the institution's core technical disciplines.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's published cost of attendance is $25,385. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,348, middle-income families pay around $18,366, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,993. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #852 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the institution's tuition structure as a public research university and the debt load graduates carry into their careers. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,390; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $87,878, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a strong fit for students who want to pursue engineering or applied science in a focused, career-oriented environment and who prioritize strong post-graduation earnings relative to what they spend to get there. Graduates earn about $18,570 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 94.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — and median earnings four years after enrollment of $87,878 place the school in the 87.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid and access picture is worth noting. 16.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 18.3% are first-generation students, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology sits in the 78.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — a signal that students from lower-income backgrounds have historically converted a degree here into meaningful long-run earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is heavily concentrated in Engineering and related applied fields, so students whose interests lie outside those areas will find fewer options than at a comprehensive university. The Rapid City, SD location also means a smaller regional labor market on graduation day — students who plan to relocate nationally for engineering and technology roles will be better positioned than those expecting to stay local in unrelated fields.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #496 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Rapid City, SD, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology enrolls roughly 2,071 undergraduates. Retention stands at 84.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.9%, reflecting strong degree-completion outcomes for a technically focused institution. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #90 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $87,878, and graduates earn about $18,570 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 94.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance reflects the institution's deep concentration in Engineering, a field where employer demand is strong and starting salaries are consistently above the national average for new graduates. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology sits in the 13.6 percentile for access and the 40.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 16.9% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 18.3% identifying as first-generation students. Mobility sits in the 37.0 percentile, reflecting the institution's ability to move graduates — including those from lower-income backgrounds — into well-paying careers in engineering and technical fields. For a specialized public institution in SD, that combination of strong earnings, accessible admissions, and durable career outcomes represents a distinctive value proposition.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of New Orleans Similar quality tier (#15195 ranked) | LA | 74% | $47,872 | #15195 | Compare |
University Of Illinois Springfield Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15214 ranked) | IL | 86% | $57,103 | #15214 | Compare |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Similar quality tier (#15218 ranked) | CA | 98% | $47,626 | #15218 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina-Upstate Similar quality tier (#15181 ranked) | SC | 67% | $48,587 | #15181 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Similar quality tier (#15234 ranked) | PA | 98% | $63,435 | #15234 | Compare |
Computer and Information Sciences, General
28 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
33 graduates
Industrial Engineering
27 graduates
Chemical Engineering
26 graduates
Mining and Mineral Engineering
17 graduates
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's program mix is anchored almost entirely in engineering and applied science — a focused portfolio that reflects the institution's identity as a specialized technical university in Rapid City, South Dakota. Engineering accounts for 76% of graduates, with other STEM fields representing another 7%, together forming the core of what the school produces and what employers recruit for.
This concentration is the defining feature of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's program signature — closer in character to a focused engineering college than a comprehensive regional university. The program combining the largest graduate cohort with the strongest earnings is Mechanical Engineering, which anchors the institution's economic output and drives its strong overall earnings profile.
Among the most popular programs, Mechanical Engineering program graduates 95 students annually with median earnings of $85,350 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #164 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Civil Engineering and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering follow as the next largest programs, with graduates earning $80,613 and $94,201 respectively, both reflecting the strong direct-to-workforce outcomes typical of engineering disciplines at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
The highest-earning programs reinforce the institution's technical depth. Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $95,639 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #91 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — followed by Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering at $94,201 and Industrial Engineering at $92,815.
These are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter national labor markets in mining, energy, civil infrastructure, and technology — fields with strong and durable demand as described in the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework. Across 17 programs serving roughly 368 students annually, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology delivers a focused, high-return program portfolio with a clear occupational signature.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's published cost of attendance is $25,385. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,348, middle-income families pay around $18,366, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,993.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #852 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the institution's tuition structure as a public research university and the debt load graduates carry into their careers.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,390; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $87,878, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn median 4-year earnings of $87,878, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 87.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,570 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the 94.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota School of Mines and Technology #90 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance runs well above the $56,249 median at comparable institutions, reflecting the school's deep concentration in engineering and applied technical fields that connect directly to high-demand labor markets.
The program lineup at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is anchored by Mechanical Engineering, which combines strong cohort scale with some of the highest early-career earnings at the institution. The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 95 students with median earnings of $85,350 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #164 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) — at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
Civil Engineering and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering follow a similar pattern: both programs graduate cohorts of 48 and 33 students respectively, with four-year median earnings of $80,613 and $94,201, and Azimuth ranks them #115 and #103 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Engineering round out the top programs, with four-year median earnings of $95,639 and $92,815 respectively, each ranking nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions at #91 and #41.
The Engineering concentration — Engineering representing 76% of graduates and other STEM fields at 7% — helps explain why South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's institution-wide earnings so consistently outpace the peer median and why the school's return on investment ranks among the strongest in the Azimuth coverage set.
