Head-to-head comparison
Black Hills State University vs Mount Marty University: which has better ROI?
Option A Spearfish, SD
Black Hills State University
- Net price / year
- $15,911
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,674
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Yankton, SD
Mount Marty University
- Net price / year
- $22,227
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,179
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mount Marty University comes closer — median earnings $48,179 against a $88,908 total, vs $46,674 at Black Hills State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hills State University | Mount Marty University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,911 | $22,227 |
| Total net cost | $63,644 | $88,908 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,674 | $48,179 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,396 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$97,364 | -$92,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Black Hills State University or Mount Marty University?
Black Hills State University, at $15,911 a year after aid versus $22,227 — a gap of $6,316 a year, or $25,264 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Black Hills State University or Mount Marty University graduates earn more?
Mount Marty University graduates report a median $48,179 ten years after entry, $1,505 more than the $46,674 at Black Hills State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Black Hills State University or Mount Marty University?
Black Hills State University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,396 at Mount Marty University, a difference of $396. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at Mount Marty University, against 43% at Black Hills State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.