Best colleges for Sports in South Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
South Dakota State University, Northern State University and University of Sioux Falls are the top bachelor's Sports programs in South Dakota by graduate earnings. South Dakota State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,019, College Scorecard. University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Augustana University award the most Sports degrees in South Dakota: 101, 57 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 South Dakota colleges offer Sports and award 312 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,019 | 57 | 62% | — | $25,500 |
| 2 | Northern State University Aberdeen Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,123 | 29 | 49% | — | $24,500 |
| 3 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,839 | 22 | 63% | $19,439 | $24,146 |
| 4 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,142 | 25 | 43% | — | $24,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in South Dakota
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Dakota Vermillion Public | 101 | Not reported |
| 2 | South Dakota State University Brookings Public | 57 | $41,019 |
| 3 | Augustana University Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | Northern State University Aberdeen Public | 29 | $40,123 |
| 5 | Black Hills State University Spearfish Public | 25 | $34,142 |
| 6 | Mount Marty University Yankton Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit | 22 | $34,839 |
| 8 | Dakota State University Madison Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in South Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in South Dakota.
Which South Dakota colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
University of South Dakota (101 graduates a year), South Dakota State University (57 graduates a year) and Augustana University (36 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 South Dakota colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in South Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, South Dakota State University leads among bachelor's Sports programs in South Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,019, College Scorecard. Northern State University and University of Sioux Falls follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Dakota is the largest, with 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in South Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, South Dakota State University tops the list at $41,019. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in South Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in South Dakota is $57,010 (median $51,630), across about 30 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Sports program?+
The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Exercise Physiologists?+
The national job outlook is about +9.5% growth with around 1,700 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.
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