South Dakota State University campus

credit : source | license

South Dakota State University Salaries

  • 5/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Brookings, SD
  • 0 reviews
#3 Best Public Universities in South Dakota
Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Salaries by Major

Salaries by Major at South Dakota State University

This page shows median first-year earnings for South Dakota State University graduates by major, based on federal College Scorecard data. Six years after enrolling, former students who are working and no longer in school report average earnings of $39,800 per year; after ten years, average earnings are $47,700. See post-graduation earnings for full trends over time.

Below, majors are ranked by median first-year earnings.

The highest-paying undergraduate degree is Computer and Information Sciences, with median first-year earnings of $63,500 , followed by Mechanical Engineering at $60,400 , and Civil Engineering at $58,600 .

Among graduate and professional degree programs, the highest-paying program is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree), with median first-year earnings of $110,900 , followed by Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degree) at $38,500 .

First-year earnings data come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and reflect IRS-reported income for South Dakota State University graduates who received federal grants or loans. Some programs are omitted for privacy.

Median first-year earnings for South Dakota State University graduates ranked by degree type and major
Major Earnings
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree) $110,900
Computer and Information Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $63,500
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $60,400
Civil Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $58,600
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor’s Degree) $56,300
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree) $56,000
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor’s Degree) $55,300
Plant Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $53,800
Agricultural Mechanization (Bachelor’s Degree) $46,300
Agricultural Business and Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $45,200
Economics (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,900
Animal Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,700
Agriculture (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,600
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degree) $38,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies and Humanities (Bachelor’s Degree) $37,700
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor’s Degree) $37,500
History (Bachelor’s Degree) $36,700
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $36,600
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor’s Degree) $35,800
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,100
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,000
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,500
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,100
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $32,500
Sociology (Bachelor’s Degree) $32,200
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $32,100
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) $31,900
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $31,800
Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $30,600
Journalism (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,100
Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,800
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,600

Other Colleges to Consider

Students considering South Dakota State University often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=219356.

First-year earnings by major: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Last updated: August 2026