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Architecture · Architecture Rank #31 of 66

Architectureat South Dakota State University

Graduates earn $41,781/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Architecture average. Base-case 10-year earnings $607K; scenarios range from $557K to $620K depending on AI disruption.

Brookings, SD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
51 AVERAGE
52
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,781
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$607K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University

First-year earnings of $41,781 track close to the $45,895 national median for Architecture programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 16.3x 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 — 46% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$41,781 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #31 out of 66 programs, South Dakota State University's Architecture offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,781 to $61,118 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$557K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple15.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$607K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple16.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$620K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple16.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to South Dakota State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Architecture graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$101,480/yr
Moderate
3
Architects, except landscape and naval
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$96,690/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Architecture

How South Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
University of Miami
FL · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
65
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
16.5x
ROI
Top score
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
67
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
24.9x
ROI
Kennesaw State University
GA · Public
66
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
30.0x
ROI
Also at South Dakota State University

Other top programs at South Dakota State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Architecture at South Dakota State University

How does South Dakota State University's Architecture program score?

This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Architecture graduates.

How vulnerable is Architecture to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Architecture careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.