Psychology, General at Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,996/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (8.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #335 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $426K $432K $419K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.8x 12.0x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.9x 8.7x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,000
Out-of-state: $48,400 (8.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,004
-89% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,298
1% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,996 at Black Hills State University come in 14% above the national median of $31,705 for Psychology, General programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology, General's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $35,996 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #335 of 926 Psychology, General programs, Black Hills State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $36,298 are relatively flat compared to the $35,996 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,935 in Spearfish, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at Black Hills State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Black Hills State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology, General at Black Hills State University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology, General careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $418,955 in decade earnings vs $426,178 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →