Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,772
Est. from national median (253 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,498
Est. from national median (201 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 suggests manageable repayment for a mathematics degree, though it's worth noting that both figures here come from national medians rather than tracked outcomes from South Dakota Mines specifically. National data shows math bachelor's graduates typically earn around $49,000 in their first year, with debt loads near $21,500—a combination that allows most graduates to handle monthly payments without excessive strain. At schools of similar size and type nationally, these financial patterns are common for STEM-focused institutions.

What distinguishes Mines is its technical reputation and engineering focus, which could enhance a math graduate's career prospects beyond what generic national figures suggest. The school's relatively high SAT scores (1245) and strong STEM culture may produce outcomes that exceed the national benchmark, particularly for students interested in applied mathematics, data science, or technical fields where Mines has industry connections. South Dakota State reports $46,520 for math grads—slightly below the national median—but that's for a more traditional comprehensive university with a broader student body.

The estimates here don't account for what makes Mines unique, so the actual value proposition likely depends on career direction. If your student plans to pursue computational roles in engineering, mining, or energy sectors where Mines has placement strength, the program could outperform these baseline figures. For pure mathematics or teaching paths, the estimated outcomes are probably more reliable guides.

Where South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all mathematics bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in South Dakota

Mathematics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Dakota (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City$10,400$48,772*$21,498*
South Dakota State UniversityBrookings$9,299$46,520*$48,395$18,000*0.39
National Median$48,772*$21,500*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mathematics graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematicians

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other

All mathematical scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 253 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.