10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$158,818at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Dakota State University
⌖ Madison, SD · 11 reportable field-and-credential outcomes
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$158,818 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
25.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−60%Modeled 10-year ROI
$55,541Observed earnings · year 5
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
Cost, completion and earnings context
$21,057Average net price / year
$25,753Cost of attendance
$55,541Median earnings · year 5 after completion
51.3%Completion rate
88.0%Admission rate
2,071Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
EARNINGS PATH
Reported earnings over time
$48,299Year 1
$63,160Year 4
$55,541Year 5
Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.
The college average is not the whole story.
Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.
1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Master's Degree$137,2852Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$85,6963Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Bachelor's Degree$78,6374Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's Degree$69,8415Business Administration, Management and Operations · Associate's Degree$57,9126Information Science/Studies · Bachelor's Degree$56,9917Health and Medical Administrative Services · Associate's Degree$49,8218Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's Degree$48,997Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding
Comparable colleges in SD
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.
Brookings, SD
South Dakota State University
- Annual net price
- $19,841
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $58,627
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -47%
University of South Dakota
- Annual net price
- $19,858
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $59,693
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -43%
Southeast Technical College
- Annual net price
- $17,400
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $50,646
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -77%
Northern State University
- Annual net price
- $15,812
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $51,509
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -73%
Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes
| Federal field | Credential | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Master's Degree | $137,285 | Not available |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $85,696 | $23,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $78,637 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $69,841 | $30,625 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $57,912 | Not available |
| Information Science/Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $56,991 | $29,318 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate's Degree | $49,821 | Not available |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $48,997 | $26,600 |
| Special Education and Teaching | Bachelor's Degree | $46,095 | $31,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Bachelor's Degree | $42,513 | $27,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $37,250 |
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.