Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

University of Sioux Falls — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Sioux Falls, SD · 1,218 students

The verdict

University of Sioux Falls charges a net price of $21,383/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $85,532. Graduates earn a median $54,521 ten years after entry, $6,161/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.9 years — a 20-year net return of $37,688, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share

University of Sioux Falls's 13.9-year payback ranks #932 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 27% of them, and #5 of 17 in South Dakota.

Better ROI than 27% of US colleges#932 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$21,383
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$54,521
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
13.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
83%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Sioux Falls: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$21,383/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$85,532our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$54,521Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$6,161/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,249Scorecard, 2026
Payback13.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$37,688our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on University of Sioux Falls's own numbers. Net price $21,383 × 4 years = $85,532 total. Median earnings $54,521 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,161 a year of premium. $85,532 ÷ $6,161 = 13.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $37,688. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do University of Sioux Falls students graduate with?

A median $23,249 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $54,521 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of Sioux Falls students graduate?

63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $85,532 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $135,765 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of Sioux Falls expensive compared with other South Dakota colleges?

Its $21,383 net price runs $1,648 above the $19,735 median across the 17 South Dakota colleges we profile, or $6,592 more across the full degree.

University of Sioux Falls: frequently asked questions

Is University of Sioux Falls worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of Sioux Falls charges $21,383/yr after aid ($85,532 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $54,521 ten years out — $6,161/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 13.9 years and returns $37,688 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a University of Sioux Falls degree take to pay off?
About 13.9 years. We divide the $85,532 four-year net cost by the $6,161/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does University of Sioux Falls cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $21,383/yr — about $85,532 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Sioux Falls compare to other South Dakota colleges?
It ranks #5 of 17 South Dakota colleges we track by payback. Its $54,521 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $21,383 net price is above the national median of $16,902.