Psychology at University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$31,696/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
14.1x earnings multiple (10.3x 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 | $537K | $534K | $493K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.2x | 14.1x | 13.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 10.4x | 10.3x | 9.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 42 | 42 |
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 (10.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,625
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,388
62% growth from Year 1
About University of South Dakota
With 99% of applicants admitted, University of South Dakota prioritizes broad access, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Dakota →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 University of South Dakota
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of South Dakota's Psychology program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 University of South Dakota rank so high for Psychology?
The #190 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 →