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Computer and Information Sciences, General at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid City, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
88 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
90
Optimistic
88
Base Case
82
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,193/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 22.5x earnings multiple (15.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $977K $938K $719K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.5x 22.5x 17.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.5x 15.8x 12.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 90 88 82

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,600
Out-of-state: $59,200 (15.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,520
-96% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,595
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $78,193 per year, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn slightly above the $62,617 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 22.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 26% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #26 ranking out of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs nationally puts South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,193 to $103,595 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

With 85% of applicants admitted, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 2,042 students in Rapid City, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 443 schools offering Computer and Information Sciences, General →

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($146,204) University of California-Los Angeles ($136,099) Yale University ($133,293) Rice University ($131,154) Northeastern University ($115,587) Northeastern University Professional Programs ($115,587) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($113,634) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($113,503)

Other Majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Mining and Mineral Engineering ($90,514) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,551) Chemical Engineering ($72,785) Computer Engineering ($72,639) Metallurgical Engineering ($71,985) Industrial Engineering ($70,216) Mechanical Engineering ($69,667) Civil Engineering ($68,755)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer and Information Sciences, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?
A score of 88/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →