Information Sciencesat South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduates earn $78,193/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $938K; scenarios range from $719K to $977K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
At $78,193 per year, Information Sciences graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn slightly above the $62,617 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 22.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 26% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #26 ranking out of 443 Information Sciences programs nationally puts South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,193 to $103,595 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology'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 Information Sciences
How South Dakota School of Mines and Technology stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Information Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Information Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Information Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
How does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Information Sciences program score?
A score of 88/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Information Sciences graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Information Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Information Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.