After University of South Dakota: graduation, pay and debt
Vermillion, South Dakota · Public · 5,439 undergrads
61% of University of South Dakota students finish within six years, the typical student earns $58,316 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $22,000 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$58.3k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
61%
finish within six years.
47%
finish in four years.
79%
of first-years come back for year two.
$22k
median federal debt at graduation.
70%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
47%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
61%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
79%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
55%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
65%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
1,203
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
61%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
25%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
1,239
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
24%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$50,172
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$58,316
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
71%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$22,000
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$17,500
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$19,000
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$15,750
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
70%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
74%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
77%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- GPA, early rounds and wait list: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers