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Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid City, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,755/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (12.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #99 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Civil Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $739K $712K $635K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 17.1x 15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.5x 12.0x 10.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,600
Out-of-state: $59,200 (12.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,520
-96% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,157
12% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $68,755/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Civil Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Civil Engineering's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $68,755 in annual earnings.

At #99 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $77,157 are relatively flat compared to the $68,755 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

A 85% acceptance rate means South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 2,042 students in Rapid City, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Petroleum engineers $141,280/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 220 schools offering Civil Engineering →

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

Loyola Marymount University ($87,790) University of Southern California ($85,262) Santa Clara University ($84,883) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($80,673) Montana Technological University ($80,327) Cornell University ($80,261) Bucknell University ($80,231) University of California-Berkeley ($78,142)

Other Majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Mining and Mineral Engineering ($90,514) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,193) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,551) Chemical Engineering ($72,785) Computer Engineering ($72,639) Metallurgical Engineering ($71,985) Industrial Engineering ($70,216) Mechanical Engineering ($69,667)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Civil Engineering careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $634,759 in decade earnings vs $738,576 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →