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Legal Research and Advanced Professional 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 $45,770/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (33,700 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 3 Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$510K	$508K	$477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.7x	12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.0x	9.9x	9.3x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	42

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 (9.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,024

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

South Dakota State University's Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies program produces graduates earning $45,770/yr — within striking distance of the $48,604 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,024 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,770 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

This program is one of 3 schools offering Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About South Dakota State University

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

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

Top Career Paths

Lawyers $151,160/yr

Law teachers, postsecondary $126,650/yr

View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at South Dakota State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at South Dakota State University?

A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $476,837 in decade earnings vs $510,083 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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