College ROI

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University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 5,439 Undergrads 54.6% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,422
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$19,858
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,334
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$19,858
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,334
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$51,926
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.8%
SAT Avg
1,125
SAT Reading
25th: 53057575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 59559575th: 695
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 25

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$554k
+$87k
+$70k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$483k
+$16k
-$2k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$466k
-$429
-$18k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-2%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-20%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return61%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-33%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $13,421
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Biology, General
AssocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,758
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,768
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,947
Earnings (4yr)
$63,700
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$71,179
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$363k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,843
Earnings (4yr)
$58,099
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
$20,824
Earnings (4yr)
$64,890
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$52,100
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,069
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,046
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,556
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$28,318
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$71,463
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$31,155
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,100
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,945
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,816
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
BachCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$61,518
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,096
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$318k
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (4yr)
$50,306
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,488
Earnings (4yr)
$55,261
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,850
Earnings (4yr)
$52,211
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,104
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,362
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (4yr)
$50,993
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
$24,966
Earnings (4yr)
$73,025
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$27,476
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,415
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,034
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,964
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
$112,617
Earnings (4yr)
$123,612
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$409k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,845
Earnings (4yr)
$109,366
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,595
Earnings (4yr)
$57,716
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,897
Earnings (4yr)
$57,931
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,032
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,542
Earnings (4yr)
$86,703
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,591
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,275
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,654
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,964
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,278
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,349
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Median Debt
$16,457
Earnings (4yr)
$62,804
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $122,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,958
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$115,835
Earnings (4yr)
$70,000
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,195
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$126,911
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,528
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.