Business Administration, Management and Operations at Dakota State University

Dakota State's business program produces earnings slightly below both the national and South Dakota medians, but the real concern here is the flat earnings trajectory—graduates see just 4% income growth over four years, far less than typical business majors. While you're starting around $45,000, comparable programs at Augustana or University of South Dakota launch graduates $3,000-$6,000 higher. That gap widens over time when growth stalls.

The upside? Debt loads are exceptionally manageable. At $30,625, graduates here borrow about $5,000 less than the national median for business programs, putting this in the 16th percentile nationally—meaning 84% of business programs saddle students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 is reasonable, giving graduates breathing room in those critical first years after college. Given Dakota State's 98% admission rate, this represents accessible education without crushing debt.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably with a larger sample. For a family prioritizing low debt over maximum earnings, this works. But if your child is competitive for Augustana or USD, those programs deliver meaningfully stronger earning power with similar debt loads. This is a viable backup option, not a first choice.