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Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,904/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (447,800 openings/yr)

ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (10.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #16 of 67 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$519K	$516K	$479K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.9x	13.9x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.1x	10.1x	9.4x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,196

Out-of-state: $51,236 (10.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,312

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,826

20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,904/yr, roughly in line with the $44,903 national median for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,312 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,904 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #16 of 67 nationally, this is a top-5% Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $43,904 to $52,826 over five years — a 20% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,798 in Brookings, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

General and operations managers $102,950/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at South Dakota State University?

A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations field.

Will AI replace Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $479,130 in decade earnings vs $518,727 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes South Dakota State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program stand out?

Ranked #16 of 67 programs nationally, South Dakota State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →