Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of South Dakota

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 puts this geology program in reasonable territory—peer programs nationally suggest graduates earn about $40,000 in their first year while carrying roughly $25,000 in debt. That translates to manageable loan payments of around $275 per month, consuming about 8% of gross income. For a field where careers often build through fieldwork and early-career positions before advancing, these estimated starting figures aren't alarming.

The challenge is uncertainty. With only two schools offering this major in South Dakota and no actual outcomes data available from either, we're relying entirely on what similar geoscience programs produce nationwide. The actual picture at USD could be better or worse depending on the strength of their industry connections, whether students stay in-state (where mining and petroleum opportunities exist but are limited), and how well the program prepares students for graduate school—since many geology careers benefit from advanced degrees. The 99% admission rate suggests this is an accessible program, but says nothing about how geology-specific outcomes compare to the school's overall profile.

If your child is genuinely interested in earth sciences and plans to leverage internships, field camps, and possibly graduate education, the estimated debt burden shouldn't be the deciding factor. But given the complete lack of program-specific data, have direct conversations with the department about recent graduate outcomes and where their alumni actually end up working.