Mechanical Engineeringat South Dakota State University
Graduates earn $67,791/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $778K; scenarios range from $673K to $812K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $67,791/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.
With a 20.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $67,791 in annual earnings.
A #130 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places South Dakota State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 26% earnings increase from $67,791 to $85,669 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 State University'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 Mechanical Engineering
How South Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University
What does a 72/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University?
At 72/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University?
The 53% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.