South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt & careers

Chemical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median $90,845 four years after graduating ($72,785 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $28,000. That is $5,959 below the U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates ($96,804 across 158 colleges), and ranks 1st of 1 South Dakota colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$90,845

U.S. median for this major: $96,804.

College Scorecard field of study; 36 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
$72,785

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$28,000

About 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,298.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$20,183 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $25,385. College Scorecard.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates$90,845

Fewer than 3 South Dakota colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (158 colleges)$96,804 (−$5,959)

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.

Chemical Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$15,348$71,0611.3 years
$30–48k$17,909$82,9191.5 years
$48–75k$18,366$85,0351.5 years
$75–110k$21,176$98,0451.8 years
$110k+$21,993$101,8281.8 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (27% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Chemical Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($90,845) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $55,048 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 Chemical Engineering graduates

Chemical engineer

U.S.$125,040

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Rapid City area$196,800
South Dakota$164,330
U.S.$171,270

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

U.S.$109,370

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.6% 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Related majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering questions

How much do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering graduates earn?

Chemical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median $90,845 four years after graduating and $72,785 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.

How much debt do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $28,000, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.

Where does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology rank for Chemical Engineering in South Dakota?

Of 1 South Dakota colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?

A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of — in South Dakota and $125,040 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and bioengineers and biomedical engineers.

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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
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Cite this: “South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).