Special Education and Teaching at University of South Dakota

The earnings decline here deserves serious attention: graduates earn less after four years of experience ($39,798) than they do fresh out of school ($46,439). With small sample size, this could reflect a few graduates moving into lower-paying roles or shifting careers, but it's still a red flag. While the program beats the national median for special education initially and ranks at the 60th percentile among South Dakota's nine programs, that advantage evaporates quickly. The debt load of $27,000 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, but becomes less attractive as those earnings drop.

The comparison to Black Hills State is telling—their special education graduates earn nearly $10,000 more initially. Meanwhile, the University of South Dakota's nearly open admission (99%) suggests this is an accessible path into teaching, but not necessarily the strongest preparation for salary growth. Special education is notoriously underpaid nationwide, and these numbers suggest USD graduates face that reality particularly hard after a few years in the classroom.

For families committed to special education in South Dakota, this program won't bury you in debt, and the first job typically pays reasonably well. But the earnings trajectory and the fact that Black Hills State produces better outcomes in the same state should factor into your decision. The small sample makes this less reliable than larger programs, so verify these patterns with the school directly.