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Is South Dakota State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for South Dakota State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
South Dakota State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $55,070 helps, but median debt of $23,250 plus yearly net price of $19,841 creates a tighter path. For context, South Dakota State's net price runs about 39% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$18,233
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $5,079 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $20,000 in extra cost.
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
$19,841
Median earnings 10 years out
$55,070
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
61%
At South Dakota State, a typical graduate carries about $23,250 in student debt and earns roughly $55,070 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $264 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
South Dakota State is a public four year school in Brookings, 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.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $19,858
Public 4-year
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $20,183
Public 4-year
Dakota State
Madison, SD
Worth-It Score: 52/100
Median net price: $21,057
Public 4-year
Black Hills State
Spearfish, SD
Worth-It Score: 52/100
Median net price: $15,911
Public 4-year
Northern State
Aberdeen, SD
Worth-It Score: 58/100
Median net price: $15,812
Common questions about South Dakota State
The median net price at South Dakota State is $19,841 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.
Looking at public universities options in South Dakota? See the most affordable public universities in South Dakota →
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 →