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Is Black Hills State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Black Hills State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Black Hills State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $46,674 helps, but median debt of $26,000 plus yearly net price of $15,911 creates a tighter path. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$15,911
Median earnings 10 years out
$46,674
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
40%
At Black Hills State, a typical graduate carries about $26,000 in student debt and earns roughly $46,674 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $296 per month, or 8% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Black Hills State is a public four year school in Spearfish, SD. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
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Bridgewater State
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Worth-It Score: 65/100
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Public 4-year
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
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Public 4-year
Angelo State
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Public 4-year
Appalachian State
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Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $16,836
Common questions about Black Hills State
The median net price at Black Hills State is $15,911 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →