U.S. median for this major: $47,823.
College Scorecard field of study; 87 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 59% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $21,277. College Scorecard.
BHSU Education (Elementary / Secondary): pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Education (Elementary / Secondary) nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses BHSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,863 | $53,146 | 5.8 years |
| $30–48k | $13,379 | $59,938 | 6.5 years |
| $48–75k | $15,588 | $69,834 | 7.6 years |
| $75–110k | $18,072 | $80,963 | 8.8 years |
| $110k+ | $18,604 | $83,346 | 9.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (25% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates 4 years after graduating ($44,958) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $9,161 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Education (Elementary / Secondary) at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Marty University | $49,652 | $27,000 | $22,227 | 52% |
| 2 | Dakota State University | $48,997 | $26,600 | $21,057 | 51% |
| 3 | Augustana University | $46,600 | $27,000 | $23,894 | 73% |
| 4 | University of South Dakota | $46,034 | $27,000 | $19,858 | 60% |
| 5 | Black Hills State University | $44,958 | $26,312 | $15,911 | 43% |
| 6 | University of Sioux Falls | $44,735 | $27,000 | $21,383 | 63% |
| 7 | Northern State University | $44,147 | $24,242 | $15,812 | 49% |
| 8 | South Dakota State University | $43,934 | $25,937 | $19,841 | 62% |
3 more South Dakota colleges offer Education (Elementary / Secondary) but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates
Elementary school teacher
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Training and Development Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +10.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at BHSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About BHSU
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 43% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $46,674
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at BHSU
- Education (Subject Teaching)$52,883
- Special Education$48,332
BHSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) questions
How much do BHSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates earn?
Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Black Hills State University earn a median $44,958 four years after graduating and $47,978 one year after. The U.S. median for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates across 671 colleges is $47,823.
How much debt do BHSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Black Hills State University is $26,312, about 59% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is BHSU a good school for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in South Dakota?
On pay, Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Black Hills State University earn $44,958 four years out, $538 below the median for the same major across 8 South Dakota colleges ($45,496) and $2,865 below the U.S. median ($47,823). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does BHSU rank for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in South Dakota?
Of 8 South Dakota colleges reporting Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduate earnings, Black Hills State University ranks 5th. The highest is Mount Marty University at $49,652.
What jobs do Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates get?
A common career is elementary school teacher, with a median wage of $50,130 in South Dakota and $63,970 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and training and development specialists.
Is BHSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing BHSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Black Hills State University Education (Elementary / Secondary): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/black-hills-state-university/majors/education-elementary-secondary (College Scorecard and BLS data).