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Health Sciences at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,109/yr (21% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Medium (15,700 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (10.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #17 of 156 Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Health Sciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$549K	$547K	$505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.6x	14.5x	13.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.6x	10.6x	9.8x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	49	47

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 (10.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,125

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,837

29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of South Dakota's Health Sciences graduates start at $44,109/yr — above the $36,567 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 14.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 43% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,125 in median debt clears quickly against $44,109 in annual earnings.

Ranked #17 out of 156 programs, University of South Dakota's Health Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,109 to $56,837 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of South Dakota

A 99% acceptance rate means University of South Dakota is accessible to most applicants, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.

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

Top Career Paths

Health education specialists $63,000/yr

Community health workers $51,030/yr

View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Health Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Dakota

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 University of South Dakota's Health Sciences program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Health Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Health Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Health Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of South Dakota rank so high for Health Sciences?

The #17 ranking out of 156 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 →