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Teacher Education at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,625/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)

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

Ranked #61 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$520K	$517K	$491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.0x	13.9x	13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.1x	10.1x	9.6x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	67

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

$24,250

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,722

13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,625 per year, Teacher Education graduates from South Dakota State University earn slightly above the $41,690 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,625 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #61 of 348 nationally, this is a top-5% Teacher Education program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $51,722 are relatively flat compared to the $45,625 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About South Dakota State University

With 99% of applicants admitted, South Dakota State University prioritizes broad access, serving 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

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

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at South Dakota State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at South Dakota State University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.

Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $491,487 in decade earnings vs $519,861 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes South Dakota State University's Teacher Education program stand out?

Ranked #61 of 348 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 →