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Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,891/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Medium (25,400 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (10.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 16 Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$513K	$511K	$478K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.8x	13.7x	12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.0x	10.0x	9.3x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	44

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 (10.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,852

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,775

15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,891 per year, Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates from South Dakota State University earn slightly above the $40,770 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 13.7x 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 — 47% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $21,852 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #5 out of 16 programs, South Dakota State University's Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $44,891 to $51,775 over five years (15% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About South Dakota State University

With 99% of applicants admitted, South Dakota State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

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

Top Career Paths

Personal financial advisors $102,140/yr

Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary $77,280/yr

Farm and home management educators $58,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does South Dakota State University's Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies program score?

This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% 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 →