U.S. median for this major: $52,601.
College Scorecard field of study; 34 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 60% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $27,000.
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 Liberal Arts / General Studies: 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.
Liberal Arts / General Studies 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 | 4.4 years |
| $30–48k | $15,942 | $67,594 | 4.7 years |
| $48–75k | $18,540 | $78,610 | 5.4 years |
| $75–110k | $21,202 | $89,896 | 6.2 years |
| $110k+ | $22,193 | $94,098 | 6.5 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 Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates 4 years after graduating ($50,306) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,509 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.
Liberal Arts / General Studies at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Liberal Arts / General Studies 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 | $60,081 | $29,731 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 2 | University of South Dakota | $50,306 | $30,092 | $19,858 | 60% |
9 more South Dakota colleges offer Liberal Arts / General Studies but have too few graduates to report earnings.
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
USD Liberal Arts / General Studies questions
How much do USD Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates earn?
Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates of University of South Dakota earn a median $50,306 four years after graduating and $35,907 one year after. The U.S. median for Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates across 467 colleges is $52,601.
How much debt do USD Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Liberal Arts / General Studies graduates of University of South Dakota is $30,092, about 60% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $27,000.
Where does USD rank for Liberal Arts / General Studies in South Dakota?
Of 2 South Dakota colleges reporting Liberal Arts / General Studies graduate earnings, University of South Dakota ranks 2nd. The highest is South Dakota State University at $60,081.
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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 Liberal Arts / General Studies: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota/majors/liberal-arts-general-studies (College Scorecard and BLS data).