U.S. median for this major: $79,489.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 29% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,907.
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 Economics: 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.
Economics 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 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $15,942 | $67,594 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $18,540 | $78,610 | 2.2 years |
| $75–110k | $21,202 | $89,896 | 2.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,193 | $94,098 | 2.6 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 Economics graduates 4 years after graduating ($71,463) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $35,666 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.
Economics at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Economics 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 | University of South Dakota | $71,463 | $20,819 | $19,858 | 60% |
| 2 | South Dakota State University | $64,432 | $26,062 | $19,841 | 62% |
3 more South Dakota colleges offer Economics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Economics graduates
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.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% 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
Related majors at USD
- Management Science / Analytics—
- Marketing$55,261
- Business Administration$64,890
- Accounting$71,179
- Finance$70,100
- Human Resources—
USD Economics questions
How much do USD Economics graduates earn?
Economics graduates of University of South Dakota earn a median $71,463 four years after graduating and $52,857 one year after. The U.S. median for Economics graduates across 368 colleges is $79,489.
How much debt do USD Economics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Economics graduates of University of South Dakota is $20,819, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,907.
Where does USD rank for Economics in South Dakota?
Of 2 South Dakota colleges reporting Economics graduate earnings, University of South Dakota ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Economics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $51,050 in South Dakota and $72,040 nationally. Others include market research analysts and marketing specialists and data 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: “University of South Dakota Economics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota/majors/economics (College Scorecard and BLS data).