by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more. We've also included details on how USD ranks compared to other colleges offering a major in communication sciences.
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The bachelor's program at USD was ranked #199 on College Factual's Best Schools for communication sciences list. It is also ranked #1 in South Dakota.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, University of South Dakota handed out 18 bachelor's degrees in communication sciences. This is a decrease of 45% over the previous year when 33 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 25 students received their master’s degree in communication sciences from USD. This makes it the #175 most popular school for communication sciences master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 4 students received their doctoral degrees in communication sciences in 2022, making the school the #80 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
While getting their bachelor's degree at USD, communication sciences students borrow a median amount of $20,990 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all communication sciences bachelor's degree recipients across the country is $32,302.
Out-of-state part-time undergraduates at USD paid an average of $376 per credit hour in 2022-2023. The average for in-state students was $259 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,773 | $11,283 |
| Fees | $1,659 | $1,659 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $9,060 | $9,060 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $4,947 | $4,947 |
Learn more about USD tuition and fees.
For the most recent academic year available, 6% of communication sciences bachelor's degrees went to men and 94% went to women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at USD are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 89% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of South Dakota with a bachelor's in communication sciences.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 |
| White | 16 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 1 |
Online degrees for the USD communication sciences bachelor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the USD Online Learning page.
Communication Sciences majors graduating with a master's degree from USD make a median salary of $59,356 a year. This is a better than average outcome since the median salary for all communication sciences graduates with a master's is $59,094.
All of the 19 students who graduated with a Master’s in communication sciences from USD in 2022 were women.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at USD are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 100% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of South Dakota with a master's in communication sciences.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 |
| White | 19 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the communication sciences majors at University of South Dakota.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental & Social Health Services | 166 |
| Nursing | 163 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 94 |
| Medicine | 64 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 60 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.