Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · Bachelor's Degree · about 72 graduates a year
South Dakota State University graduates in mechanical engineering earn 5% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 31% of one year’s pay at that point.
How South Dakota State University 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 |
| … | |||||
| 246 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | $87,772 | $79,924 | #306 | $71,774 |
| 247 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH | $87,752 | $93,645 | #140 | $71,448 |
| 248 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA | $87,731 | $90,819 | #184 | $68,462 |
| 249 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD | $87,704 | $94,404 | #125 | $67,791 |
| 250 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND | $87,702 | $90,862 | #183 | $72,158 |
| 251 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI | $87,645 | $91,199 | #180 | $73,260 |
| 252 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY | $87,533 | $91,229 | #179 | $57,153 |
Other Majors at South Dakota State University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do South Dakota State University mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $67,791 one year after graduating and $87,704 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does South Dakota State University rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, South Dakota State University ranks #249 by median pay four years after graduation, and #125 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at South Dakota State University worth it?
Its graduates earn 5% less than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000.
← All data for South Dakota State University · 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.