Greetings District 20 residents, Today more than ever, our labor market favors workers with college degrees. This includes all degrees from S.D.’s technical colleges. The share of jobs available to people without a college degree fell from 63% in 1992 to 51% in 2021. These trends are expected to continue in the coming years: by 2031, 55% of all jobs in the US will go to workers with college degrees. Earning a college degree can significantly impact lifetime earnings. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher typically earn substantially more over their careers than those without. For example, the difference in median cost-adjusted lifetime earnings between adults with bachelor’s degrees and those with associate’s degrees is $550,000, and the difference between those with graduate degrees and those with bachelor’s degrees is $607,000. Forbes named South Dakota the most affordable state to get a college degree, South Dakota’s public universities have the highest return on investment in the nation. On average, South Dakota students hold the second lowest student loan balance in the nation.
Our technical colleges had 2464 graduates in 2024. With their ever expanding offering of programs, it is their goal to reach 3000 graduates by the end of the decade. Our state universities have over 5000 employees and this fall 36,091 students attended our six state universities.
In a very challenging time, with high school graduation numbers down in S.D., higher education continues to thrive in our state. An ever diversifying array of programs, the tuition freezes that have been made available, and a wonderful recruiting effort have truly made a tremendous difference in the success of higher education.
S.D.’s work ethic, family structure, and the courage to dream of a better future, continue to define us as a people. Young people in this state deserve a chance at this dream.
Until next time, keep working, keep smiling, and encourage others to be their best!