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Subject-Area Teaching at Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,494/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (10.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #44 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Subject-Area Teaching graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$519K	$517K	$491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	14.4x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.7x	10.7x	10.1x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,000

Out-of-state: $48,400 (10.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,004

-89% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,966

9% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Black Hills State University's Subject-Area Teaching graduates start at $47,494/yr — above the $41,690 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Subject-Area Teaching programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Subject-Area Teaching's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

At #44 of 348 nationally, this is a top-5% Subject-Area Teaching program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $51,966 are relatively flat compared to the $47,494 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Black Hills State University

A 94% acceptance rate means Black Hills State University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,935 in Spearfish, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at Black Hills State University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at Black Hills State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Subject-Area Teaching at Black Hills State University?

A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Subject-Area Teaching field.

Will AI replace Subject-Area Teaching careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $490,999 in decade earnings vs $519,166 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Black Hills State University's Subject-Area Teaching program stand out?

Ranked #44 of 348 programs nationally, Black Hills State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →