Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 59.4%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 61.4%
- Retention Rate
- 80.0%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $51,926
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $23,592
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 69.5%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $250/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $100,951 | $112,617 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $97,071 | |
| Public Administration. | Master | $70,456 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $68,778 | $25,845 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $65,170 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $62,632 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $62,260 | $18,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $62,012 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $62,012 | |
| Medicine. | Doctoral | $57,860 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $57,693 | $24,966 |
| Human Services, General. | Master | $57,318 | $34,542 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Bachelor | $54,252 | $26,000 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $52,941 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $51,607 | $44,897 |
Outcomes Overview
USD graduates earn a median salary of $51,926 ten years after graduation, which translates to roughly $260 monthly loan payments consuming about 6% of gross income. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 sits comfortably below the federal guideline of 1.0 for manageable debt. With a 69.48% loan repayment rate and 98.5% employment rate, most Coyotes find steady work after college. The university's strong health sciences programs funnel many graduates into healthcare careers, where job security remains high. Alumni like Tom Brokaw demonstrate the school's reach beyond the Midwest. For a regional public university, USD delivers a strong return on investment with reasonable debt levels and solid earning potential.