WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-15% vs national median529 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at South Dakota State University

Ranked 96th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$38,264
middle 50%: $29,290 – $46,279
Median · 5 years out
$49,665
middle 50%: $39,669 – $61,926
Median · 10 years out
$60,219
middle 50%: $46,048 – $75,952

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (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 Design and Applied Arts earn a median $38,264 one year after graduating, rising to $60,219 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 96th of 135 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
8.3 yrs
≈ $9,567 total interest

Same major at other universities

Western Oregon University
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$50,607 · 5 yrs out
University of Northwestern- St Paul
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Francis
$50,245 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$50,065 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$49,718 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$49,533 · 5 yrs out
Concordia University
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$49,104 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$49,079 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$48,943 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$48,723 · 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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