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Accounting and Related Services at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,234/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (10.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #247 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$572K	$561K	$515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.2x	14.9x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	11.1x	10.8x	9.9x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	76	74	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,728

Out-of-state: $51,768 (10.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,750

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,423

4% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $57,234/yr, edging above the $53,724 national average for Accounting and Related Services — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $22,750 in median debt against $57,234 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #247 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, University of South Dakota scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $59,423 are relatively flat compared to the $57,234 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota has a 99% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.

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

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr

Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr

Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Dakota

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 Accounting and Related Services at University of South Dakota?

This program scores 74/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting and Related Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?

With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $514,754 in decade earnings vs $572,437 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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