Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of South Dakota

With only a handful of graduates in the sample, these numbers need careful interpretation, but they suggest University of South Dakota's liberal arts program underperforms compared to other South Dakota options. At $35,907 first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $5,200 less than the state median for this major—and South Dakota State delivers earnings about 21% higher at $43,563.

The debt picture offers one bright spot: at $30,092, graduates carry less than both the national median ($27,000) and finish in the 24th percentile nationally for debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 means graduates owe about 10 months' salary, which is manageable but not exceptional. Combined with USD's 99% admission rate, this program appears designed for access rather than outcomes optimization.

The real question is opportunity cost. If your child can attend South Dakota State or Dakota State instead, they'd likely earn $6,000-$8,000 more annually right out of college while taking on similar debt. That difference compounds significantly over a career. For families specifically drawn to USD's Vermillion campus or academic environment, this represents a workable if unremarkable choice. But purely as a financial investment among South Dakota's liberal arts programs, it ranks in the bottom half for a reason.