Geological/Geophysical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
SD · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.39
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Geological/Geophysical Engineering degree from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median salary of $81,671 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SD, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $87,069. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$63,346
Typical Career
$81,671
Top Performers
$102,996
Estimated break-even: 4.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$544
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,806. Most students can comfortably afford about a $544 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.1x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Dakota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Construction.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$87,069
Nominal: $81,671 in South Dakota (COL 93.8% of national avg) · 6.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $49,445 | $68,758 | $89,880 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $63,346 | $81,671 | $102,996 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $79,157 | $110,004 | $136,354 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $81,671 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SD, which has a cost-of-living index of 93.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $81,671 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9380)
= $87,069 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries employing these graduates include Manufacturing (30.1%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (23.1%), and Construction (6.4%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 4.4 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in this field appears favorable. This suggests that students can expect a solid financial payoff over time, reinforcing the value of their educational investment.
Compare with Another School
See how the Geological/Geophysical Engineering degree at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.