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Psychology, General at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,696/yr (-0% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (10.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #190 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, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$537K	$534K	$493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	14.1x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.4x	10.3x	9.5x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	47%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	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)

$37,728

Out-of-state: $51,768 (10.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,625

8.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,388

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,696/yr, Psychology, General graduates from University of South Dakota land near the $31,705 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.1x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,625 debt-to-$31,696 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #190 out of 926 programs, University of South Dakota's Psychology, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,696 to $51,388 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Dakota

With 99% of applicants admitted, University of South Dakota prioritizes broad access, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.

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

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, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Dakota

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of South Dakota's Psychology, General program score?

This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Psychology, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Psychology, General to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Psychology, General 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 University of South Dakota rank so high for Psychology, General?

The #190 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 →