COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Computer Software and Media Applications bachelor's degree at Dakota State University
Madison, SD · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are below similar programs.
$16,381 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 63.5% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −109% · Negative payoff
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$204,870
$8,000Annual price−$236,870
$16,000Annual price−$268,870
$21,000Current college-wide context−$288,870
$24,000Annual price−$300,870
$32,000Annual price−$332,870
$40,000Annual price−$364,870
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,067Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$42,513$6,446 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$21,057
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$27,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$42,513
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$21,057Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,753Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE88.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE51.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?
Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
8.1% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$3,543
Estimated loan payment$286
49borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$42,513 vs. $58,894
$16,381 below the national median for the same field and credential.
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$72,940 median wageSD estimate · 350 jobs · 25-1194$60,940–$77,200 middle 50% of SD wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,970 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeData Scientists$96,150 median wageSD estimate · 220 jobs · 15-2051$83,810–$123,260 middle 50% of SD wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Programmers$58,240 median wageSD estimate · 70 jobs · 15-1251$55,200–$70,850 middle 50% of SD wages-7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGraphic Designers$48,390 median wageSD estimate · 470 jobs · 27-1024$40,990–$57,560 middle 50% of SD wages-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Systems Managers$162,240 median wageSD estimate · 380 jobs · 11-3021$140,390–$195,840 middle 50% of SD wages+15.8% projected U.S. growth · 53,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 median wageU.S. estimate · 37,200 jobs · 15-1221+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeDatabase Architects$136,540 median wageSD estimate · 40 jobs · 15-1243$109,470–$138,820 middle 50% of SD wages+9.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 median wageU.S. estimate · 113,330 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Developers$96,310 median wageSD estimate · 2,380 jobs · 15-1252$79,810–$121,190 middle 50% of SD wages+10.2% projected U.S. growth · 95,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDatabase Administrators$82,540 median wageSD estimate · 170 jobs · 15-1242$74,980–$98,690 middle 50% of SD wages-0.1% projected U.S. growth · 3,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$75,540 median wageSD estimate · 150 jobs · 25-1021$61,380–$88,910 middle 50% of SD wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Finance and Insurance
Manufacturing
Information
Educational Services
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
$119,601 higher earnings · $7,231 less debt · $7,919 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $162,114
- Debt
- $19,769
- Annual net price
- $13,138
Western Governors University
$88,685 higher earnings · $3,713 less debt · $8,509 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $131,198
- Debt
- $23,287
- Annual net price
- $12,548
Park University
$55,743 higher earnings · $7,188 less debt · $25 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $98,256
- Debt
- $19,812
- Annual net price
- $21,032
Florida Polytechnic University
$49,557 higher earnings · $19,500 less debt · $9,204 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $92,070
- Debt
- $7,500
- Annual net price
- $11,853
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
21 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →