Accountingat University of South Dakota
Graduates earn $57,234/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $561K; scenarios range from $515K to $572K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Dakota
Graduates earn $57,234/yr, edging above the $53,724 national average for Accounting — 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 programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Accounting'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 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.
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 University of South Dakota'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 Accounting
How University of South Dakota stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Dakota
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Dakota, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Accounting at University of South Dakota
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at University of South Dakota?
This program scores 74/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Accounting nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Accounting 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.