Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at South Dakota State University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at South Dakota State University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
40
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$17,628
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$22,761
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$897,396 | $91,422 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$658,886 | $81,032 | $22,761 | $22,748 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$434,786 | $70,114 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$291,146 | $62,932 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$249,186 | $61,104 | $22,761 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$240,416 | $60,463 | $22,761 | $28,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Construction Engineering Technologies.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$234,966 | $59,988 | $22,761 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$183,246 | $57,402 | $22,761 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$157,736 | $54,439 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$152,037 | $55,715 | $22,761 | $23,125 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$80,764 | $52,113 | $22,761 | $22,557 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$72,906 | $52,020 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Agricultural Mechanization.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$34,296 | $49,752 | $22,761 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$12,556 | $48,395 | $22,761 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$10,856 | $47,095 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
+$5,072 | $48,565 | $22,761 | $26,062 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Agriculture, General.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$60,764 | $44,864 | $22,761 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$68,580 | $45,130 | $22,761 | $29,731 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$70,419 | $44,637 | $22,761 | $23,789 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$70,505 | $44,784 | $22,761 | $26,031 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$80,772 | $44,077 | $22,761 | $23,162 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$136,114 | $41,569 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$138,684 | $41,373 | $22,761 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$144,629 | $41,042 | $22,761 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$153,539 | $40,569 | $22,761 | $25,093 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$156,501 | $40,401 | $22,761 | $24,798 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
History.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$162,022 | $40,272 | $22,761 | $26,977 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$177,654 | $39,492 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$195,804 | $36,762 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$197,514 | $38,499 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$208,404 | $36,132 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$219,534 | $37,398 | $22,761 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$238,444 | $34,630 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$251,089 | $35,719 | $22,761 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$251,714 | $35,695 | $22,761 | $25,608 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$251,944 | $35,710 | $22,761 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$273,299 | $34,541 | $22,761 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$280,464 | $32,529 | $22,761 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$292,758 | $33,665 | $22,761 | $25,937 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 59.5% |
-$340,224 | $31,242 | $22,761 | $25,200 | 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.