WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+3% vs national median116 grads tracked

Air Transportation at South Dakota State University

Ranked 11th of 33 bachelor's programs in Air Transportation by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,695
middle 50%: $29,360 – $54,881
Median · 5 years out
$76,015
middle 50%: $59,577 – $99,994
Median · 10 years out
$96,791
middle 50%: $71,728 – $123,676

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Air Transportation (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of South Dakota State University's bachelor's program in Air Transportation earn a median $39,695 one year after graduating, rising to $96,791 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $73,568 for this field, ranking 11th of 33 reporting programs.

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
6.1 yrs
≈ $7,276 total interest

Same major at other universities

Utah State University
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Middle Georgia State University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$80,382 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$78,899 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$77,781 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$73,975 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Farmingdale
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
$73,728 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Dakota State University

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,496 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$148,262 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,581 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$113,950 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$112,807 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,841 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,697 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$93,240 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out

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