WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Professional)-21% vs national median1,031 grads tracked

Law at University of South Dakota

Ranked 53rd of 61 doctoral (professional) programs in Law by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$61,940
middle 50%: $48,556 – $71,454
Median · 5 years out
$83,134
middle 50%: $65,986 – $100,775
Median · 10 years out
$97,219
middle 50%: $71,956 – $131,459

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Law (doctoral (professional)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of South Dakota's doctoral (professional) program in Law earn a median $61,940 one year after graduating, rising to $97,219 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 21% below the national median of $105,660 for this field, ranking 53rd of 61 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
≈ $5,415 total interest

Same major at other universities

Hamline University
$88,688 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$87,145 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$86,391 · 5 yrs out
Regent University
$83,869 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$83,626 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$83,292 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Maine
$82,959 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$82,932 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$81,945 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$79,620 · 5 yrs out
Valparaiso University
$79,389 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of South Dakota

Medicine (Doctorate)
$232,751 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$136,818 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's)
$116,358 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,450 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$89,791 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,516 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$87,051 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$77,249 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$77,188 · 5 yrs out

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