South Dakota · Design and Applied Arts

Best institutions to study Design and Applied Arts in South Dakota

The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

Institutions
7
offering CIP 50.04
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
50
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$31,022
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,439
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Graphic Designers
$50,880
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1South Dakota State University
Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,9442962%$27,000
2Black Hills State University
Spearfish Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,0221343%

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~20,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$61,300
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingActive LearningReading Comprehension

What Graphic Designers earn in South Dakota

Jobs in South Dakota
470
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$50,880
median $48,390
Best-paying metro
$53,760
Rapid City, SD

Related careers

Graphic Designers
$50,880 avg · 470 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$66,920 avg · 200 jobs
Photographers
$43,740 avg · 190 jobs
Commercial and Industrial Designers
$61,970 avg · 190 jobs
Interior Designers
$74,170 avg · 150 jobs
Art Directors
$69,360 avg · 30 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Design and Applied Arts programs in South Dakota.

Which Design and Applied Arts program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), South Dakota State University tops the list at $35,944. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Graphic Designers earn in South Dakota?+

The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in South Dakota is $50,880 (median $48,390), across about 470 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Design and Applied Arts program?+

The Design and Applied Arts program focuses on the intersection of design and practical application, teaching students how to create aesthetically pleasing objects for everyday use. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+

The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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