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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $25,385 |
| Tuition and Fees | $14,900 |
| Room and Board | $9,300 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,900 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$5,202 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $20,183 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $15,348 |
| $30–48k | $17,909 |
| $48–75k | $18,366 |
| $75–110k | $21,176 |
| $110k+ | $21,993 |
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 .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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 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 — 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.
