Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$11,223 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
29.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$21,158 / year
10-year scenario
+2% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
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.

What stays fixed$71,463 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+42%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$52,857$74,965
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
20Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,858

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,819

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$71,463

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$221/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,858Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,422Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE98.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE59.9%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.

$52,857Year 1
$71,463Year 4
$74,965Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.7% 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$5,955
Estimated loan payment$221
20borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$71,463 vs. $82,686

$11,223 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
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.
Economists$124,720 median wageU.S. estimate · 17,790 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$119,470 median wageSD estimate · 570 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$85,700 median wageSD estimate · 40 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$44,820 median wageSD estimate · 40 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$69,460 median wageU.S. estimate · 8,290 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$105,650 median wageU.S. estimate · 29,030 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$96,150 median wageSD estimate · 220 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$63,490 median wageSD estimate · 1,530 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050 median wageSD estimate · 3,360 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

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.

Brookings, SD

South Dakota State University

$17 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,432
Debt
$26,062
Annual net price
$19,841
View outcomes →
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

$95,215 higher earnings · $7,894 less debt · $2,142 lower annual net price

Earnings
$166,678
Debt
$12,925
Annual net price
$17,716
View outcomes →
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

$89,300 higher earnings · $9,569 less debt · $13,730 lower annual net price

Earnings
$160,763
Debt
$11,250
Annual net price
$6,128
View outcomes →
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

$88,115 higher earnings · $7,622 less debt · $4,998 lower annual net price

Earnings
$159,578
Debt
$13,197
Annual net price
$14,860
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

22 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

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.

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