U.S. median for this major: $85,097.
College Scorecard field of study; 77 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,708.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
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 Civil Engineering: 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.
Civil 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 income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $15,348 | $71,061 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $17,909 | $82,919 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $18,366 | $85,035 | 1.9 years |
| $75–110k | $21,176 | $98,045 | 2.2 years |
| $110k+ | $21,993 | $101,828 | 2.3 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 Civil Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($80,613) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $44,816 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.
Civil Engineering at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Civil Engineering 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 | South Dakota State University | $82,486 | $27,000 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 2 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $80,613 | $27,388 | $20,183 | 53% |
Careers for Civil Engineering graduates
Civil engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Environmental Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.3% 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
- Acceptance rate: 80% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $72,257
- Full cost breakdown · all 23 majors · overview
Related majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Electrical Engineering$94,201
- Engineering—
- Mechanical Engineering$85,350
- Industrial Engineering$92,815
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Civil Engineering questions
How much do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Civil Engineering graduates earn?
Civil Engineering graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median $80,613 four years after graduating and $68,755 one year after. The U.S. median for Civil Engineering graduates across 233 colleges is $85,097.
How much debt do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Civil Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Civil Engineering graduates of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $27,388, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,708.
Where does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology rank for Civil Engineering in South Dakota?
Of 2 South Dakota colleges reporting Civil Engineering graduate earnings, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranks 2nd. The highest is South Dakota State University at $82,486.
What jobs do Civil Engineering graduates get?
A common career is civil engineer, with a median wage of $100,300 in the Rapid City, SD area and $100,840 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and environmental 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
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Civil Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology/majors/civil-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).