U.S. median for this major: $56,448.
College Scorecard field of study; 56 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 29% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,500.
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 Plant Sciences: 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.
Plant Sciences 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 | 1.4 years |
| $30–48k | $15,248 | $65,871 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $18,073 | $78,075 | 1.8 years |
| $75–110k | $20,706 | $89,450 | 2.1 years |
| $110k+ | $21,886 | $94,548 | 2.2 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 Plant Sciences graduates 4 years after graduating ($78,494) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $42,697 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 Plant Sciences graduates
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Soil and Plant Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.7% 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
- Agricultural Production Operations—
- Animal Sciences$53,784
- Agricultural Business$67,425
- Agriculture$61,132
- Food Science and Technology—
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services—
South Dakota State University Plant Sciences questions
How much do South Dakota State University Plant Sciences graduates earn?
Plant Sciences graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median $78,494 four years after graduating and $58,787 one year after. The U.S. median for Plant Sciences graduates across 44 colleges is $56,448.
How much debt do South Dakota State University Plant Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Plant Sciences graduates of South Dakota State University is $23,125, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,500.
Where does South Dakota State University rank for Plant Sciences in South Dakota?
Of 1 South Dakota colleges reporting Plant Sciences graduate earnings, South Dakota State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Plant Sciences graduates get?
A common career is conservation scientists, with a median wage of $76,400 in South Dakota and $73,010 nationally. Others include soil and plant 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: “South Dakota State University Plant Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/south-dakota-state-university/majors/plant-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).