Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in South Dakota by ROI

Every Bachelor's 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

119

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$56,515

Across all South Dakota programs

Average Annual Cost

$27,388

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$897,396	$91,422	$22,761	N/A	Full ROI →
2	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$658,886	$81,032	$22,761	$22,748	Full ROI →
3	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Grad rate: 57.0%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$540,530	$75,822	$24,865	$27,000	Full ROI →
4	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Grad rate: 57.0%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$456,850	$71,638	$24,865	$27,000	Full ROI →
5	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$434,786	$70,114	$22,761	$27,000	Full ROI →
6	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Information Science/Studies.	+$425,912	$70,164	$24,447	$29,318	Full ROI →
7	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	+$350,962	$66,125	$24,447	$25,000	Full ROI →
8	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$342,332	$64,006	$24,447	N/A	Full ROI →
9	South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Grad rate: 57.0%	Civil Engineering.	+$318,486	$64,746	$24,865	$27,388	Full ROI →
10	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Civil Engineering.	+$291,146	$62,932	$22,761	$27,000	Full ROI →
11	Dakota Wesleyan University Grad rate: 50.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$289,488	$64,969	$42,473	N/A	Full ROI →
12	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Economics.	+$287,758	$62,502	$23,544	$20,819	Full ROI →
13	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$250,604	$59,239	$23,544	N/A	Full ROI →
14	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	+$249,186	$61,104	$22,761	$31,000	Full ROI →
15	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$247,974	$61,041	$23,544	$28,644	Full ROI →
16	National American University-Rapid City Grad rate: 23.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$242,563	$63,550	$29,232	$52,969	Full ROI →
17	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$240,416	$60,463	$22,761	$28,000	Full ROI →
18	Dakota Wesleyan University Grad rate: 50.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$235,398	$64,357	$42,473	$31,000	Full ROI →
19	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Construction Engineering Technologies.	+$234,966	$59,988	$22,761	$25,000	Full ROI →
20	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Finance and Financial Management Services.	+$196,312	$58,166	$23,544	$24,320	Full ROI →
21	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Political Science and Government.	+$183,246	$57,402	$22,761	$25,000	Full ROI →
22	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$157,736	$54,439	$22,761	N/A	Full ROI →
23	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Plant Sciences.	+$152,037	$55,715	$22,761	$23,125	Full ROI →
24	University of Sioux Falls Grad rate: 59.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$135,858	$57,431	$32,728	$31,000	Full ROI →
25	Augustana University Grad rate: 75.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$118,934	$60,403	$53,169	$27,000	Full ROI →
26	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$93,514	$53,207	$23,544	$27,000	Full ROI →
27	Mount Marty University Grad rate: 58.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$85,014	$57,115	$45,209	$27,000	Full ROI →
28	Northern State University Grad rate: 51.5%	Psychology, General.	+$83,788	$50,634	$22,223	N/A	Full ROI →
29	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Agricultural Business and Management.	+$80,764	$52,113	$22,761	$22,557	Full ROI →
30	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Architecture.	+$72,906	$52,020	$22,761	$27,000	Full ROI →
31	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Agricultural Mechanization.	+$34,296	$49,752	$22,761	$22,000	Full ROI →
32	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$32,534	$50,023	$23,544	$25,000	Full ROI →
33	Northern State University Grad rate: 51.5%	Biology, General.	+$21,913	$49,248	$22,223	$25,300	Full ROI →
34	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Mathematics.	+$12,556	$48,395	$22,761	$18,000	Full ROI →
35	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.	+$10,856	$47,095	$22,761	N/A	Full ROI →
36	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Economics.	+$5,072	$48,565	$22,761	$26,062	Full ROI →
37	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$15,618	$47,477	$23,544	$22,950	Full ROI →
38	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Biology, General.	-$20,603	$47,248	$23,544	$23,250	Full ROI →
39	University of Sioux Falls Grad rate: 59.9%	Human Resources Management and Services.	-$33,732	$46,859	$32,728	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Northern State University Grad rate: 51.5%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$44,363	$46,239	$22,223	$29,816	Full ROI →
41	Augustana University Grad rate: 75.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$47,437	$51,957	$53,169	$25,112	Full ROI →
42	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	-$50,388	$44,370	$24,447	N/A	Full ROI →
43	Augustana University Grad rate: 75.6%	Political Science and Government.	-$52,506	$51,831	$53,169	$27,000	Full ROI →
44	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$52,771	$46,318	$24,447	$30,625	Full ROI →
45	Northern State University Grad rate: 51.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$56,502	$45,442	$22,223	$27,000	Full ROI →
46	Dakota State University Grad rate: 49.0%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.	-$60,228	$43,878	$24,447	N/A	Full ROI →
47	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Agriculture, General.	-$60,764	$44,864	$22,761	$20,000	Full ROI →
48	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$61,816	$45,359	$23,544	$25,793	Full ROI →
49	University of South Dakota Grad rate: 59.4%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$62,406	$45,276	$23,544	$25,000	Full ROI →
50	South Dakota State University Grad rate: 59.5%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$68,580	$45,130	$22,761	$29,731	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.