Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Federal field 1419

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 are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,431 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 30.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $61,760 / year
10-year scenario: +65% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+26%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$67,791 → $85,669

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

29Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

71Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

77Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,841

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$87,704

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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,841Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,636Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE98.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE62.4%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.

$67,791Year 1

$87,704Year 4

$85,669Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.9% 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$7,309

Estimated loan payment$286

77borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$87,704 vs. $92,135

$4,431 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.

Architectural and Engineering Managers$164,330 median wageSD estimate · 310 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAerospace Engineers$134,960 median wageU.S. estimate · 67,710 jobs · 17-2011+8.3% projected U.S. growth · 3.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$97,700 median wageSD estimate · 120 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeMechanical Engineers$88,380 median wageSD estimate · 560 jobs · 17-2141+11.2% projected U.S. growth · 17.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCost Estimators$74,950 median wageSD estimate · 1,030 jobs · 13-1051-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 17.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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