Best colleges for Civil Engineering in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and South Dakota State University award the most Civil Engineering degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 66 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 2 South Dakota colleges offer Civil Engineering and award 112 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Civil Engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,129 | 46 | 62% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,755 | 66 | 53% | — | $27,388 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in South Dakota
Top 2 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City Public | 66 | $68,755 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public | 46 | $69,129 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (66 graduates a year) and South Dakota State University (46 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 2 South Dakota colleges offer Civil Engineering.
Which Civil Engineering program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, South Dakota State University tops the list at $69,129. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in South Dakota is $99,500 (median $98,700), across about 1,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Civil Engineering program?+
The Civil Engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Civil Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +5.0% growth with around 23,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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