U.S. median for this major: $61,451.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 64% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,394.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $25,753. College Scorecard.
Dakota State University Software and Media Applications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 South Dakota colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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.
Software and Media Applications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Dakota State University'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 | $17,317 | $74,117 | 11.0 years |
| $30–48k | $18,792 | $80,430 | 12.0 years |
| $48–75k | $19,165 | $82,026 | 12.2 years |
| $75–110k | $22,601 | $96,732 | 14.4 years |
| $110k+ | $23,269 | $99,591 | 14.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (35% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Software and Media Applications graduates 4 years after graduating ($42,513) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $6,716 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.
Careers for Software and Media Applications graduates
Software Developers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +10.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +15.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% 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 Dakota State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Dakota State University
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 51% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $50,970
- Full cost breakdown · all 24 majors · overview
Related majors at Dakota State University
- Computer and Information Sciences$85,696
- Information Technology$78,637
- Information Science / Studies$56,991
Dakota State University Software and Media Applications questions
How much do Dakota State University Software and Media Applications graduates earn?
Software and Media Applications graduates of Dakota State University earn a median $42,513 four years after graduating and $26,379 one year after. The U.S. median for Software and Media Applications graduates across 37 colleges is $61,451.
How much debt do Dakota State University Software and Media Applications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Software and Media Applications graduates of Dakota State University is $27,000, about 64% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,394.
Where does Dakota State University rank for Software and Media Applications in South Dakota?
Of 1 South Dakota colleges reporting Software and Media Applications graduate earnings, Dakota State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Software and Media Applications graduates get?
A common career is software developers, with a median wage of $96,310 in South Dakota and $135,980 nationally. Others include computer and information systems managers and data scientists.
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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: “Dakota State University Software and Media Applications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/dakota-state-university/majors/software-and-media-applications (College Scorecard and BLS data).