Black Hills State University

What are the graduation rates for students at Black Hills State University?

Black Hills State University's reported four-year graduation rate was 29%, while its six-year rate was 43%. These measures generally follow a defined cohort of first-time, full-time students seeking a bachelor's degree; they do not describe the completion experience of every transfer or part-time student.

The reported student retention rate was 72%, indicating the share of students in the measured group who returned for the next academic year. Graduation and retention figures are useful planning context, but they do not explain why individual students stayed, transferred, paused enrollment, or completed a degree later. Applicants comparing programs should also ask about course availability and how often required classes are offered, since those details affect an individual graduation plan.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Black Hills State University?

Federal College Scorecard program figures report earnings measured about one year after completion for eligible former students, not a salary promised to future graduates. The reported one-year median was $36,641 for business administration and $38,787 for special education and teaching; other reported programs had different results.

These are program-level medians for the population captured by the federal measure, not averages for all alumni. Earnings shortly after completion can be affected by location, occupation, further study, hours worked, and the size of the group measured. They also omit important considerations such as educational debt and long-term career progression.

Students seeking employment support can look to BHSU's career services for help with career exploration and job-search preparation. Such services should be evaluated separately from earnings statistics: access to advice or an employer event does not establish an individual employment outcome.