Black Hills State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Black Hills State University charges a net price of $15,911/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,644. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,674, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Black Hills State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #13 of 17 South Dakota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,911/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $63,644 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,674 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,686/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$97,364 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Black Hills State University's own numbers. Net price $15,911 × 4 years = $63,644 total. Median earnings $46,674 fall $1,686 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $63,644 bill in about 6.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Black Hills State University students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 56% of the $46,674 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Black Hills State University students graduate?
43% finish their degree — 57% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,644 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $148,009 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Black Hills State University expensive compared with other South Dakota colleges?
Its $15,911 net price runs $3,824 below the $19,735 median across the 17 South Dakota colleges we profile, and $15,296 less across the full degree.