Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks South Dakota State University #650 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,465 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. South Dakota State University sits in the 63.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University #650 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R2) in Brookings, South Dakota, South Dakota State University enrolls roughly 9,198 undergraduates. Retention is 83.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.4%, reflecting solid institutional capacity to move students from enrollment to degree completion. Where South Dakota State University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University #443 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,042, and South Dakota State University sits in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the institution's concentration in health-related fields, which consistently deliver solid early-career pay and stable labor-market demand. Access and affordability anchor the institution's broader value proposition. South Dakota State University enrolls 16.8% of undergraduates on Pell Grants and 20.2% who are first-generation college students, positioning it as a broad-access public institution. Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University in the 19.4 percentile for access and the 55.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a public research university with manageable costs, strong health-sciences programs, and earnings outcomes that exceed those of many peer institutions, South Dakota State delivers a compelling combination of access, affordability, and long-term financial return.
South Dakota State University's published cost of attendance is $24,636. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $14,266, middle-income families pay around $18,073, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,886. Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University #630 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. South Dakota State's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA to access federal, state, and institutional aid programs. The institution participates in federal grant and loan programs, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. The gap between published cost of attendance and actual net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — a dynamic worth understanding when comparing sticker price across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,000; 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 a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,042, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
South Dakota State University is a strong fit for students interested in health fields who want a public research university experience in SD, with outcomes that place it in the 55.8 percentile for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,042, placing South Dakota State University in the 63.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $4,465 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 16.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.2% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that support upward mobility. Published cost of attendance is $21,886, with need-based aid available to close the gap for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 98.3% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors health-oriented fields that account for 8% of degrees. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong regional outcomes.
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.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the South Dakota State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
South Dakota State University's published cost of attendance is $24,636. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $14,266, middle-income families pay around $18,073, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,886.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University #630 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.
South Dakota State's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA to access federal, state, and institutional aid programs. The institution participates in federal grant and loan programs, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students.
The gap between published cost of attendance and actual net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — a dynamic worth understanding when comparing sticker price across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,000; 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 $63,042, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 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 State University earn median 4-year earnings of $63,042, placing South Dakota State University in the 63.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,465 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing South Dakota State University in the 74.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks South Dakota State University #443 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a career trajectory that aligns with South Dakota's regional labor market while positioning graduates competitively for advancement beyond the state.
The earnings pattern is anchored in health-related fields, which dominate the institution's degree output. Nursing is the largest program with 336 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $77,932, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Animal Sciences program graduates 117 students with median 4-year earnings of $53,784, while Mechanical Engineering and $87,704 round out the institution's core economic profile. The concentration in Health fields — including Biology, General and Business/Managerial Economics — reflects both the institution's academic strengths and the stable, in-demand career pathways that characterize the upper Midwest labor market.
This program mix supports consistent early-career earnings and long-term career stability for graduates who remain in or near the region.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
62 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
19 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
95 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
27 graduates
Civil Engineering
40 graduates
South Dakota State University's program mix centers on health, agriculture, and engineering fields — a portfolio aligned with South Dakota's workforce needs and the university's land-grant mission. Nursing is the largest program with 336 graduates annually, followed by Animal Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, General, and Business/Managerial Economics.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,997 students annually, several deliver strong earnings outcomes that reflect regional labor-market demand for applied health and agricultural professionals. The earnings pattern shows consistent strength in health-related fields.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration graduates earn median earnings of $122,169 four years after enrollment, while Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $87,704 and Nursing graduates earn $77,932. Biology, General and Animal Sciences round out the highest-earning programs with graduates earning $54,446 and $53,784 respectively.
These outcomes reflect the university's strength in nursing, pharmacy, and health-sciences pathways where regional employers actively recruit. Nursing, the institution's largest program, demonstrates how scale and earnings align — 336 graduates annually with median earnings of $77,932 creates substantial workforce presence in the region.
Animal Sciences and Mechanical Engineering similarly combine meaningful cohort size with solid earnings, supporting both direct-to-workforce pathways and graduate-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how South Dakota State University's dominant program families — particularly health and agriculture — align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Cloud State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#16361 ranked) | MN | 95% | $55,813 | #16361 | Compare |
University Of Northern Colorado Similar quality tier (#16901 ranked) | CO | 86% | $52,231 | #16901 | Compare |
Troy University Similar quality tier (#16908 ranked) | AL | 96% | $42,062 | #16908 | Compare |
Eastern Illinois University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#16941 ranked) | IL | 65% | $51,989 | #16941 | Compare |
Bemidji State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#16943 ranked) | MN | 56% | $53,755 | #16943 | Compare |
