Software Developmentat Dakota State University
Graduates earn $26,379/yr in their first year — about 43.0% below the national Software Development average. Base-case 10-year earnings $469K; scenarios range from $452K to $465K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Dakota State University
While the national salary figures for software roles are impressive, your earnings from Dakota State will be shaped heavily by the regional economy. DSU is a key talent pipeline for South Dakota and the surrounding Midwest, placing graduates into vital tech roles at regional banks, healthcare systems like Sanford Health, and government contractors. These are stable, valuable careers, but they don't command the salaries you'd find in coastal tech hubs, which significantly influences the earnings data you see. Your degree will be highly respected locally, where the cost of living is also much lower. To maximize your return, proactively seek out remote work opportunities with national companies during your junior and senior years; this will allow you to leverage your affordable DSU education to compete for a much higher salary tier upon graduation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Dakota State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Software Development
How Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Dakota State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Dakota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Software Development offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Software Development trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Software Development at Dakota State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Software Development at Dakota State University?
A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Software Development. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Software Development at Dakota State University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $26,379/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Software Development careers?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $452,212 in decade earnings vs $465,323 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Software Development from Dakota State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.