Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at University of South Dakota

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$50,361

Est. from national median (169 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (89 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 is solidly manageable—your child would owe roughly half their first-year salary, which is below the threshold where loan payments typically strain budgets. The estimated $25,000 in debt (based on medians across similar USD programs) and $50,361 starting salary (drawn from national HR bachelor's programs) suggest monthly payments around $280 on a standard 10-year plan, consuming about 8% of gross income. That leaves room to actually build a life after graduation.

The bigger question is whether USD offers enough to justify choosing it over peer institutions. With a 99% admission rate and relatively modest academic profile, this isn't a school trading on prestige or elite networking. What matters more for HR roles is whether the program connects students to employers in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, or regional markets where entry-level positions exist. The fact that South Dakota has only four schools offering this major means less in-state competition, but it also suggests a smaller local job market compared to states with larger corporate hubs.

The financial picture looks workable based on what comparable programs produce, but verify that USD's career services actively place HR graduates and that the program offers internship pipelines to regional employers. If your child plans to leave South Dakota after graduation, make sure they understand they'll be competing with graduates from larger programs who may have stronger corporate recruiting relationships.

Where University of South Dakota Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of South DakotaVermillion	$9,432	$50,361*	—	$25,000*	—
Benedictine UniversityLisle	$34,290	$83,475*	$70,999	$31,872*	0.38
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$17,228	$82,714*	$92,289	$14,225*	0.17
Northwestern UniversityEvanston	$65,997	$82,255*	—	$38,832*	0.47
Walsh UniversityNorth Canton	$34,595	$80,566*	—	$29,812*	0.37
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$77,897*	$68,524	$32,111*	0.41
National Median	—	$50,361*	—	$26,625*	0.53

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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 University of South Dakota, approximately 18% 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 169 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.