WhatGradsMake
Master's+2% vs national median139 grads tracked

Social Sciences at South Dakota State University

Ranked 46th of 151 master's programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$56,642
middle 50%: $39,065 – $74,301
Median · 5 years out
$77,901
middle 50%: $52,636 – $113,482
Median · 10 years out
$103,837
middle 50%: $79,787 – $133,708

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of South Dakota State University's master's program in Social Sciences earn a median $56,642 one year after graduating, rising to $103,837 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $76,582 for this field, ranking 46th of 151 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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,906 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Missouri - Kansas City
$78,889 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$78,372 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$78,021 · 5 yrs out
Empire State University
$77,831 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$77,811 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$77,524 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$77,105 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M International University
$77,093 · 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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