Bachelor's-10% vs national median257 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Ranked 270th of 321 bachelor's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,832
middle 50%: $26,697 – $50,938
Median · 5 years out
$59,211
middle 50%: $43,722 – $78,090
Median · 10 years out
$86,780
middle 50%: $71,103 – $125,308
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical Sciences bachelor's graduates in South Dakota earn a median $37k in year 1. Salaries rise to a median of $87k by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,628 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Minnesota Morris
$59,742 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Minnesota State University
$59,422 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$59,402 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$59,396 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$59,340 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Superior
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
Eureka College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$58,659 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - South Bend
$58,609 · 5 yrs out
Cameron University
$58,574 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$58,485 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$116,180 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,340 · 5 yrs out
Metallurgical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$108,882 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$108,803 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$104,398 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$101,236 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$101,165 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$99,134 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$98,571 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$98,571 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Certificate)
$97,802 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$97,530 · 5 yrs out