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Psychology at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $35,425/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)

ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #130 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$504K	$503K	$471K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.5x	13.5x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.8x	9.8x	9.2x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	43

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 (9.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

8.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,296

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,425 at South Dakota State University come in 12% above the national median of $31,705 for Psychology programs.

The 13.5x 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 — 49% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$35,425 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #130 out of 926 programs, South Dakota State University's Psychology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,425 to $48,296 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at South Dakota 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

How does South Dakota State University's Psychology program score?

This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Psychology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does South Dakota State University rank so high for Psychology?

The #130 ranking out of 926 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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