At $22,086/yr net price, National American University-Rapid City graduates earn $37,325/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $3,325/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $22,086 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $88,344 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,325/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$3,325/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 26.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $29,020 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,086/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $56,133 | $38,049 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $52,357 | $16,905 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $51,722 | $32,001 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $45,109 | $28,458 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $42,682 | $27,525 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Bachelor | $41,205 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $40,551 | $13,456 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Bachelor | $39,832 | $32,805 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $36,938 | $27,986 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $36,077 | $17,010 |
The Risk Factor
60.0% of students at National American University-Rapid City graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 40% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
The financial picture at National American University-Rapid City is weak, and the gap between your program choices makes that split obvious. Median earnings ten years out sit below what your median debt looks like, and the net price stays flat at $22,086 no matter what your family earns. That last point matters: if your family makes under $30k, you pay the same as everyone else, which means low-income families here shoulder a cost the school does not discount.
Nursing is the one program that pays for itself. Graduates earn roughly $56,000, and even with the highest debt load on the list around $38,000, the salary clears it. If you come here, nursing is the reason to do it.
Everything else is a harder sell. Business administration and accounting graduates land in the low-to-mid $40,000s, which barely outpaces the debt you take on to get there. Computer and information sciences is the quiet win: earnings near $40,000 but debt around $13,000, the lowest on the list, so the return per dollar borrowed beats every program except nursing.
The risk here is the price. You pay private-for-profit tuition and get median outcomes that look like a state school's, without the state-school price. A 66.67% retention rate means one in three of you does not come back after year one, and if you leave with debt and no degree, the math turns ugly fast.
This school fits you if you are committed to nursing or willing to keep your borrowing low in a field like computing. If you want a general business or accounting degree, price out a public college first , you can likely get the same salary for less debt. Do not pay this price for an undecided major.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is National American University-Rapid City worth the cost?
With graduates earning $37,325 ten years after enrollment and typical debt of $29,020, the return on investment is below average for most programs. Only nursing graduates see strong earnings that justify the costs.
What are the best paying programs at National American University-Rapid City?
Nursing programs offer the strongest returns, with graduates earning $52,000-$56,000 annually. Business and accounting graduates earn $42,000-$51,000, which provides modest returns given the school's costs.
How much debt do National American University-Rapid City graduates typically have?
The median debt is $29,020, which represents about 78% of typical first-year earnings for graduates. This debt-to-income ratio is manageable for nursing graduates but challenging for lower-earning programs.
What is the graduation rate at National American University-Rapid City?
The graduation rate is 60%, meaning 4 out of 10 students don't complete their programs. Students who don't graduate still accumulate debt without receiving the credential needed for career advancement.