Psychology at Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
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)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology 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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,298
1% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Psychology 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 at Black Hills State University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology 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 →