WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-5% vs national median566 grads tracked

Civil Engineering at South Dakota State University

Ranked 87th of 105 bachelor's programs in Civil Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$64,540
middle 50%: $55,284 – $73,418
Median · 5 years out
$81,435
middle 50%: $71,857 – $92,948
Median · 10 years out
$98,712
middle 50%: $84,822 – $117,073

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Civil Engineering (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 Civil Engineering earn a median $64,540 one year after graduating, rising to $98,712 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $86,131 for this field, ranking 87th of 105 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
4.9 yrs
≈ $5,299 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
$82,048 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$82,002 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$81,926 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$81,827 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
$81,770 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$81,604 · 5 yrs out
University of the District of Columbia
$81,403 · 5 yrs out
Trine University
$80,964 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$80,530 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$80,490 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$80,435 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$80,396 · 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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