Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in South Dakota by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in South Dakota ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in South Dakota

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$89,070

Across all South Dakota programs

Average Annual Cost

$21,284

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Construction Engineering Technologies.	+$502,802	$69,774	$18,239	$12,000	Full ROI →
2	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.	+$315,078	$59,378	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$223,760	$55,276	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians.	+$223,080	$55,242	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$213,998	$55,134	$16,241	$12,000	Full ROI →
6	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$210,385	$55,139	$16,241	$14,750	Full ROI →
7	Dakota Wesleyan University Grad rate: 50.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$180,134	$55,254	$42,473	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$171,266	$53,008	$24,447	N/A	Full ROI →
9	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$163,898	$55,408	$29,232	$33,924	Full ROI →
10	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$147,738	$51,011	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Agricultural Mechanization.	+$131,898	$50,219	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Ground Transportation.	+$84,962	$48,072	$18,239	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$80,140	$48,095	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
14	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$72,810	$48,576	$20,885	$12,548	Full ROI →
15	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Precision Metal Working.	+$49,150	$47,024	$18,239	$11,001	Full ROI →
16	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$46,940	$46,435	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
17	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$22,478	$47,905	$23,544	$35,951	Full ROI →
18	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Geography and Cartography.	-$5,942	$43,327	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$13,238	$43,972	$18,239	$12,000	Full ROI →
20	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	-$19,062	$42,671	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications.	-$25,008	$44,169	$20,880	$19,725	Full ROI →
22	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$39,948	$43,306	$20,885	$17,999	Full ROI →
23	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection.	-$48,271	$41,944	$16,241	$10,866	Full ROI →
24	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$48,820	$42,457	$20,880	$12,000	Full ROI →
25	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$57,520	$42,022	$20,880	$12,000	Full ROI →
26	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Agricultural Production Operations.	-$86,202	$40,124	$16,241	$12,000	Full ROI →
27	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	-$103,860	$38,895	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$117,819	$39,418	$20,885	$18,081	Full ROI →
29	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$123,546	$38,626	$18,239	$14,510	Full ROI →
30	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$128,270	$37,675	$20,885	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Agricultural Business and Management.	-$128,758	$38,196	$18,239	$12,000	Full ROI →
32	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$168,708	$36,674	$20,885	$15,125	Full ROI →
33	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.	-$173,740	$35,401	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Precision Metal Working.	-$175,390	$36,129	$20,885	$12,000	Full ROI →
35	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$190,562	$34,096	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
36	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Legal Support Services.	-$191,664	$35,340	$29,232	N/A	Full ROI →
37	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Business/Commerce, General.	-$203,921	$35,301	$20,880	$20,875	Full ROI →
38	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Finance and Financial Management Services.	-$210,272	$34,483	$18,239	$17,374	Full ROI →
39	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	-$218,090	$35,923	$29,232	$28,212	Full ROI →
40	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services.	-$232,064	$33,320	$29,232	N/A	Full ROI →
41	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$237,265	$35,001	$29,232	$28,757	Full ROI →
42	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Graphic Communications.	-$252,360	$31,470	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
43	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$261,022	$31,383	$16,241	$12,000	Full ROI →
44	Western Dakota Technical College Grad rate: 52.9%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$261,652	$32,492	$20,885	$22,017	Full ROI →
45	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$262,598	$33,866	$29,232	$30,707	Full ROI →
46	Lake Area Technical College Grad rate: 67.0%	Marketing.	-$270,995	$31,236	$18,239	$14,250	Full ROI →
47	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Marketing.	-$281,415	$31,131	$20,880	$16,500	Full ROI →
48	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Culinary Arts and Related Services.	-$300,282	$28,610	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Southeast Technical College Grad rate: 54.7%	Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.	-$308,740	$28,651	$20,880	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Mitchell Technical College Grad rate: 70.8%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	-$356,042	$25,822	$16,241	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.