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Sociology bachelor's degree outcomes at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Federal field 4511

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.

$747 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
50.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−73% · Negative 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.

+13%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$40,236$45,610
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
40Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
62Borrowers 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$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$51,910

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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.

$40,236Year 1
$51,910Year 4
$45,610Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.4% 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$4,326
Estimated loan payment$276
62borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$51,910 vs. $52,657

$747 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.
Managers, All Other$119,470 median wageSD estimate · 570 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSociologists$106,030 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,260 jobs · 19-3041+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSociology Teachers, Postsecondary$64,210 median wageSD estimate · 40 jobs · 25-1067+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$72,990 median wageU.S. estimate · 16,580 jobs · 25-1069+1.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k 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 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.

Aberdeen, SD

Northern State University

$4,029 lower annual net price

Earnings
$50,765
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$15,812
View outcomes →
Spearfish, SD

Black Hills State University

$3,930 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,833
Debt
$37,329
Annual net price
$15,911
View outcomes →
Williamsburg, VA

William & Mary

$35,745 higher earnings · $12,000 less debt · $745 lower annual net price

Earnings
$87,655
Debt
$14,000
Annual net price
$19,096
View outcomes →
Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

$19,453 higher earnings · $12,869 less debt · $6,360 lower annual net price

Earnings
$71,363
Debt
$13,131
Annual net price
$13,481
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

40 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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