Psychology at South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,425/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
13.5x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $504K | $503K | $471K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.5x | 13.5x | 12.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 9.8x | 9.8x | 9.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 43 |
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 (9.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,296
36% growth from Year 1
About South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.
See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota State University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other
$117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$109,840/yr
Compare & Explore
Psychology at Other Schools
Other Majors at South Dakota State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does South Dakota State University's Psychology program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Psychology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does South Dakota State University rank so high for Psychology?
The #130 ranking out of 926 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →