Construction Engineering Technologies at South Dakota State University

South Dakota State's Construction Engineering Technologies program shows a puzzling earnings pattern that demands explanation. Graduates start strong at nearly $78,000—outpacing 76% of similar programs nationwide—but see their income drop to $66,000 by year four. This 16% decline is unusual for an engineering-adjacent field and raises questions about whether early graduates are taking temporary high-paying construction jobs before settling into different roles, or if the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) is creating statistical noise.

The $25,000 debt load is manageable either way, representing just 32 cents per dollar of first-year earnings. That's a comfortable ratio even if the earnings decline holds true across larger graduate populations. Being the only program of its kind in South Dakota makes state comparisons meaningless, but the strong national ranking suggests SDSU is doing something right in curriculum or industry connections.

For a student committed to construction management or engineering in the Dakotas region, this program offers affordable entry into a field with solid starting pay. However, the earnings trajectory deserves scrutiny—ask the school directly about career paths for recent graduates and whether that drop-off reflects job-hopping, geographic relocation, or data quirks. The modest debt means taking this risk won't be financially catastrophic, but understanding what happens between years one and four should inform your decision.