WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median2,201 grads tracked

Engineering at South Dakota State University

Ranked 168th of 185 bachelor's programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$67,406
middle 50%: $54,225 – $78,496
Median · 5 years out
$84,736
middle 50%: $71,426 – $100,337
Median · 10 years out
$101,158
middle 50%: $81,576 – $127,568

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for 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 Engineering earn a median $67,406 one year after graduating, rising to $101,158 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $97,820 for this field, ranking 168th of 185 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
4.7 yrs
≈ $5,058 total interest

Same major at other universities

South Carolina State University
$86,929 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$86,655 · 5 yrs out
Western Carolina University
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$86,578 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$86,577 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$86,476 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$82,300 · 5 yrs out
University of the District of Columbia
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Environment Science & Forestry
$81,533 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$80,540 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$80,113 · 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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