U.S. median for this major: $91,190.
College Scorecard field of study; 61 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,876.
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 Mechanical 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.
Mechanical Engineering 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 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $15,248 | $65,871 | 1.3 years |
| $48–75k | $18,073 | $78,075 | 1.5 years |
| $75–110k | $20,706 | $89,450 | 1.7 years |
| $110k+ | $21,886 | $94,548 | 1.8 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 Mechanical Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($87,704) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $51,907 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.
Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Mechanical 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 | $87,704 | $27,000 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 2 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $85,350 | $27,000 | $20,183 | 53% |
Careers for Mechanical Engineering graduates
Mechanical engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +11.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Cost Estimators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -3.1% 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.
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
- Electrical Engineering$103,018
- Civil Engineering$82,486
South Dakota State University Mechanical Engineering questions
How much do South Dakota State University Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
Mechanical Engineering graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median $87,704 four years after graduating and $67,791 one year after. The U.S. median for Mechanical Engineering graduates across 316 colleges is $91,190.
How much debt do South Dakota State University Mechanical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates of South Dakota State University is $27,000, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,876.
Where does South Dakota State University rank for Mechanical Engineering in South Dakota?
Of 2 South Dakota colleges reporting Mechanical Engineering graduate earnings, South Dakota State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Mechanical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is mechanical engineer, with a median wage of $88,380 in South Dakota and $104,110 nationally. Others include cost estimators and architectural and engineering managers.
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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 Mechanical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/south-dakota-state-university/majors/mechanical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).