U.S. median for this major: $47,823.
College Scorecard field of study; 74 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 $24,636. College Scorecard.
South Dakota State University 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 South 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 | $14,266 | $61,629 | 7.6 years |
| $30–48k | $15,248 | $65,871 | 8.1 years |
| $48–75k | $18,073 | $78,075 | 9.6 years |
| $75–110k | $20,706 | $89,450 | 11.0 years |
| $110k+ | $21,886 | $94,548 | 11.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($43,934) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $8,137 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 South Dakota State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About South Dakota State University
- Acceptance rate: 98% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 62% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,070
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at South Dakota State University
- Education (Subject Teaching)$50,076
- Special Education—
South Dakota State University Education (Elementary / Secondary) questions
How much do South Dakota State University Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates earn?
Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median $43,934 four years after graduating and $43,530 one year after. The U.S. median for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates across 671 colleges is $47,823.
How much debt do South Dakota State University Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of South Dakota State University is $25,937, about 59% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is South Dakota State University a good school for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in South Dakota?
On pay, Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of South Dakota State University earn $43,934 four years out, $1,562 below the median for the same major across 8 South Dakota colleges ($45,496) and $3,889 below the U.S. median ($47,823). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does South Dakota State University rank for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in South Dakota?
Of 8 South Dakota colleges reporting Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduate earnings, South Dakota State University ranks 8th. 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.
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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 State University Education (Elementary / Secondary): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/south-dakota-state-university/majors/education-elementary-secondary (College Scorecard and BLS data).