Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
56
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,312
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,826
20% growth from Year 1
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
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 →