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Computer and Information Sciences, General at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $73,770/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)

ROI 25.0x earnings multiple (18.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #27 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	$968K	$929K	$714K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	26.0x	25.0x	19.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	18.9x	18.1x	13.9x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	74%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	89	88	81

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,196

Out-of-state: $51,236 (18.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$101,471

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

South Dakota State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates start at $73,770/yr — above the $62,617 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 25.0x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $73,770 in annual earnings.

A #27 ranking out of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs nationally puts South Dakota State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $73,770 to $101,471 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About South Dakota State University

A 99% acceptance rate means South Dakota State University is accessible to most applicants, serving 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota State University →

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

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does South Dakota State University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?

A score of 88/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. South Dakota State University'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 →