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Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University

If you plan to study Mechanical Engineering, take a look at what South Dakota State University. We’ve gathered the following information to help you decide.

South Dakota State University is located in Brookings, SD.

During the most recent reporting year, 81 mechanical engineering degrees were granted at South Dakota State University.

Online & Distance Learning at South Dakota State University

Many students take online classes at South Dakota State University. Of 12,056 students, 2,300 (19%) were enrolled entirely in distance education and 4,028 (33%) took at least some classes online.

Mechanical Engineering Rankings at South Dakota State University

These rankings give you a sense of how South Dakota State University’s Mechanical Engineering program against peer institutions.

Master’s-Level Rankings

Ranking	Scope	Rank
Best Schools (Quality)	South Dakota	#1 of 2
Best Value	South Dakota	#1 of 2
Best Value	The Plains States (Region)	#12 of 25
Best Schools (Quality)	The Plains States (Region)	#18 of 25
Best Value	Nationwide	#200 of 364
Best Schools (Quality)	Nationwide	#233 of 365

Earnings for Mechanical Engineering Graduates from South Dakota State University

Students who complete South Dakota State University’s Mechanical Engineering program earn at the following median levels (per the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard):

Years After Graduation	Median Earnings
1 year	$60,229
2 years	$61,322
3 years	$70,114
4 years	$77,562
5 years	$85,669

Is this above or below average for the school? At the four-year mark, Mechanical Engineering graduates from South Dakota State University take home a median $77,562, compared with $62,701 for all South Dakota State University graduates — about 24% higher than the school-wide median.

Median Debt at Graduation

The median debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates from South Dakota State University is $27,000.

Student Demographics & Diversity

Below you’ll find the student demographics for Mechanical Engineering graduates at South Dakota State University, by degree type.

Across all degree levels, Mechanical Engineering graduates at South Dakota State University are 14% women (11) and 86% men (70).

Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Program at South Dakota State University

Of the 71 bachelor’s mechanical engineering degrees awarded at South Dakota State University, 14% were women (10) and 86% were men (61).

The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree recipients at South Dakota State University.

Race / Ethnicity	Number of Graduates
White	59
Hispanic / Latino	1
Black / African American	1
Asian	1
Two or More Races	1
International (Nonresident)	7
Unknown	1

Minority students account for 6% of Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree recipients at South Dakota State University, lower than the national average of 34%.*

Mechanical Engineering Master’s Program at South Dakota State University

Among the 10 master’s mechanical engineering graduates at South Dakota State University, 10% were women (1) and 90% were men (9).

The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Mechanical Engineering master’s degree recipients at South Dakota State University.

Race / Ethnicity	Number of Graduates
White	5
Hispanic / Latino	1
International (Nonresident)	4

Racial-ethnic minorities make up 10% of Mechanical Engineering master’s degree recipients at South Dakota State University, below the national average of 23%.*

*The racial-ethnic minorities figure is the total number of graduates minus White, international (nonresident), and unknown-race graduates.

More Specific Mechanical Engineering Concentrations at South Dakota State University

The Mechanical Engineering program at South Dakota State University includes the following sub-specializations:

Concentration	Graduates
General Mechanical Engineering	81

Highest-Paying Careers for Mechanical Engineering Graduates

Those who complete Mechanical Engineering program at South Dakota State University go on to a range of careers. Below are the top-paying careers for Mechanical Engineering majors, ordered by median annual salary:

Occupation	Nationwide Median Wage
Fuel Cell Engineers	$137,020
Automotive Engineers	$107,733
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$101,277
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers	$89,263
Cost Estimators	$80,966
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$79,889
Mechanical Engineers	$79,543
Aerospace Engineers	$63,328

References

• IPEDS — Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
• U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
• O*NET Online (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• National Center for Education Statistics

More about our data sources and methodologies.