Black Hills State University vs Dakota State University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD | Dakota State University Madison, SD | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -72% | +14% |
| 10-year net gain | $-52,949 | $12,498 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $47,017 | $55,529 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $46,588 | $46,627 |
| Average net price | $15,911 | $21,057 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,500 |
| Break-even | 36.3 yrs | 8.8 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 43% | 51% |
| Admission rate | 96% | 88% |
Black Hills State University
Poor return
$-52,949 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Dakota State University
Break-even
+$12,498 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.