U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 73 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 50% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,422. College Scorecard.
USD Communications: 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.
Communications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses USD'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 | $14,921 | $63,265 | 3.9 years |
| $30–48k | $15,942 | $67,594 | 4.1 years |
| $48–75k | $18,540 | $78,610 | 4.8 years |
| $75–110k | $21,202 | $89,896 | 5.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,193 | $94,098 | 5.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (48% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Communications graduates 4 years after graduating ($52,100) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,303 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.
Communications at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Communications 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 | $55,345 | $25,500 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 2 | University of South Dakota | $52,100 | $26,000 | $19,858 | 60% |
| 3 | Black Hills State University | $45,537 | — | $15,911 | 43% |
| 4 | University of Sioux Falls | $42,847 | — | $21,383 | 63% |
2 more South Dakota colleges offer Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Communications graduates
Public relations specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fundraisers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.1% 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 USD, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About USD
- Acceptance rate: 99% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $51,926
- Full cost breakdown · all 49 majors · overview
USD Communications questions
How much do USD Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of University of South Dakota earn a median $52,100 four years after graduating and $35,792 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do USD Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of University of South Dakota is $26,000, about 50% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is USD a good school for Communications in South Dakota?
On pay, Communications graduates of University of South Dakota earn $52,100 four years out, $3,282 above the median for the same major across 4 South Dakota colleges ($48,818) and $2,183 below the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does USD rank for Communications in South Dakota?
Of 4 South Dakota colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, University of South Dakota ranks 2nd. The highest is South Dakota State University at $55,345.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $64,520 in South Dakota and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
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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: “University of South Dakota Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).