Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD · Bachelor's Degree · about 76 graduates a year
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates in mechanical engineering earn 7% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 30% of one year’s pay at that point.
How South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Compares for Mechanical Engineering
All 318 colleges reporting mechanical engineering earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | $131,967 | $116,211 | #3 | $83,957 |
| 2 | California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $115,011 | #5 | $92,315 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | $122,111 | $111,113 | #10 | $81,865 |
| 4 | Duke University Durham, NC | $120,991 | $129,841 | #1 | $89,938 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $119,371 | $108,620 | #16 | $88,497 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $117,072 | $106,528 | #28 | — |
| 7 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | $115,927 | $101,747 | #53 | $85,328 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $114,492 | $116,439 | #2 | $66,876 |
| 9 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $112,212 | $106,803 | #27 | $85,440 |
| 10 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $111,491 | $106,116 | #32 | $72,036 |
| … | |||||
| 285 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC | $85,463 | $91,714 | #169 | $72,278 |
| 286 | Union College Schenectady, NY | $85,427 | $81,309 | #292 | $68,407 |
| 287 | Boise State University Boise, ID | $85,354 | $90,762 | #186 | $62,835 |
| 288 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD | $85,350 | $91,870 | #166 | $69,667 |
| 289 | Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN | $85,286 | $81,466 | #291 | $68,919 |
| 290 | Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN | $85,285 | $93,165 | #145 | $71,112 |
| 291 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI | $85,196 | $89,829 | #204 | $69,862 |
Other Majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $95,639 | $78,193 | #146 of 459 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $94,201 | $73,551 | #201 of 258 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,815 | $70,216 | #66 of 94 |
| Chemical Engineering | $90,845 | $72,785 | #124 of 158 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $88,904 | $90,514 | #7 of 7 |
| Civil Engineering | $80,613 | $68,755 | #189 of 233 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $75,779 | — | #5 of 7 |
| Computer Engineering | — | $72,639 | — |
| Metallurgical Engineering | — | $71,985 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $48,069 | — | #131 of 138 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $69,667 one year after graduating and $85,350 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranks #288 by median pay four years after graduation, and #166 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology worth it?
Its graduates earn 7% less than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $25,500.
← All data for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.