- Programs ranked
- 6
- In-state tuition
- $7,616 to $39,100
- Avg graduation rate
- 60%
- Median wage (BLS)
- $59,460
What Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in South Dakota Cost and Who Gets In
We scored all 568 bachelor's programs in exercise science and kinesiology (CIP 31.0505) on the same weighted model, then pulled the 6 highest scoring in South Dakota. Augustana University leads the state with a score of 86.3, which is national rank 58 out of 568. None of the 6 crack the national top 25, so read the scores below rather than assuming a national reputation.
In-state tuition runs from $7,616 to $39,100 across the 6 programs with a published rate. The 6 schools with a published graduation rate average 60%. Average admit rate across the 6 schools publishing one is 85%. Together they conferred 181 bachelor's degrees in the field in the latest IPEDS completions year.
3 of the 6 are public institutions and 3 are private. None carry an online flag in IPEDS, so plan on attending in person.
All 6 Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs in South Dakota, Ranked (2026)
Each bar shows where the program’s national score falls between 50 and 100, ticked at 75 for the middle of the range.
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Rank 1: Augustana University
Exercise Science
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
1st of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 58 of 568
Augustana's exercise science major feeds directly into the university's own Doctor of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training master's programs, a pipeline priced at $39,100 a year with no in-state discount.
Augustana University leads South Dakota at 86.3, ahead of the other 5 programs ranked here. In-state tuition of $39,100 is the highest in the state, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 73% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 68% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 30 bachelor's degrees a year, 17% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level. Nationally it is 58th of the 568 bachelor's programs scored at this level.
- Coaching minor available with major
- Study away options in Costa Rica, Norway, Greece
- Internships include Sanford POWER, Avera Sports
- Research ties to South Dakota BRIN
- Graduation rate
- 73%
- Admit rate
- 68%
- In-state tuition
- $39,100
- Out-of-state tuition
- $39,100
- Cost of attendance
- $58,176
- Undergrad enrollment
- 2,003
- Degrees conferred
- 30
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Rank 2: University of South Dakota
Kinesiology & Sport Management: Exercise Science (B.S.)
Vermillion, SD · Public · town campus
Our score
2nd of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 236 of 568
USD's Kinesiology and Sport Management exercise science track embeds 350 contact hours of internship into the degree and puts students to work in a $100,000 biomechanics laboratory.
University of South Dakota places 2nd of 6 in South Dakota at 75.1, with 1 program scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,773 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 60% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 99% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 59 bachelor's degrees a year, 33% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level. Residency is worth $3,510 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $11,283 out-of-state rate.
- Accelerated 3+3 B.S./O.T.D. pathway
- CSCS exam prep in the applied track
- Pre-professional track toward PT, OT and PA study
- BodPod body composition testing
- Graduation rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state tuition
- $7,773
- Out-of-state tuition
- $11,283
- Cost of attendance
- $25,736
- Undergrad enrollment
- 7,619
- Degrees conferred
- 59
View University of South Dakota's Kinesiology & Sport Management: Exercise Science (B.S.) www.usd.edu
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Rank 3: University of Sioux Falls
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit · city campus
Our score
3rd of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 242 of 568
In our scoring, University of Sioux Falls sits within a point of the University of South Dakota's 75.1, but its Exercise Science major backs that with three tracks and two named concentrations.
University of Sioux Falls places 3rd of 6 in South Dakota at 74.9, with 2 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $21,150 is below the state midpoint, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 63% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 83% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 21 bachelor's degrees a year, 12% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level.
- Named tracks: pre-professional, community health and health and performance
- Sports Medicine concentration requires four semesters of practicum
- Coaching concentration open to any major
- Prepares students for the ACSM Personal Training exam
- Tuition below the median for the level of $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 63%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state tuition
- $21,150
- Out-of-state tuition
- $21,150
- Cost of attendance
- $36,535
- Undergrad enrollment
- 1,241
- Degrees conferred
- 21
View University of Sioux Falls' Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science www.usiouxfalls.edu
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Rank 4: South Dakota State University
B.S. in Exercise Science
Brookings, SD · Public · town campus
Our score
4th of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 255 of 568
South Dakota State runs its Exercise Science B.S. through internship placements at Sanford Health, Avera Health and the university's own Strength and Conditioning department before graduation.
South Dakota State University places 4th of 6 in South Dakota at 74.6, with 3 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,773 is in the cheaper quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 62% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 98% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 55 bachelor's degrees a year, 30% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level. Residency is worth $3,510 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $11,283 out-of-state rate.
- Accelerated M.S. in Athletic Training
- M.S. in Nutrition, Exercise Sciences path
- Exercise Science Club
- 98% admit rate
- 55 degrees conferred yearly
- Graduation rate
- 62%
- Admit rate
- 98%
- In-state tuition
- $7,773
- Out-of-state tuition
- $11,283
- Cost of attendance
- $25,099
- Undergrad enrollment
- 10,719
- Degrees conferred
- 55
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Rank 5: Dakota State University
Exercise Science, B.S.
Madison, SD · Public · town campus
Our score
5th of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 278 of 568
Prospective physical therapy and occupational therapy applicants, and students aiming for NSCA-aligned strength and conditioning work, should look at Dakota State first for its sub-$8,000 in-state tuition and biomechanics lab access.
Dakota State University places 5th of 6 in South Dakota at 73.8, with 4 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $7,616 is the lowest in the state, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 51% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 88% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 10 bachelor's degrees a year, 6% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level. Residency is worth $3,102 a year here, the gap between the in-state rate and the $10,718 out-of-state rate.
- Double major option with biology
- SDSU Accelerated BSN admission pathway
- ParvoMedics 2400 metabolic testing system
- 10 degrees conferred annually
- Graduation rate
- 51%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- In-state tuition
- $7,616
- Out-of-state tuition
- $10,718
- Cost of attendance
- $26,773
- Undergrad enrollment
- 3,066
- Degrees conferred
- 10
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Rank 6: Dakota Wesleyan University
Exercise Science
Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit · town campus
Our score
6th of 6 in South Dakota
National rank 417 of 568
A 48% graduation rate ties Dakota Wesleyan's exercise science score to the 28th percentile among the 568 peer bachelor's programs, well under the 55% group median.
Dakota Wesleyan University places 6th of 6 in South Dakota at 68.6, with 5 programs scoring above it. In-state tuition of $32,500 is in the dearer quarter of the state, where the published range runs $7,616 to $39,100. Its 48% graduation rate sits against a 48% to 73% spread across the 6 South Dakota schools that report one.
It admits 73% of applicants, against 68% to 99% across South Dakota. It confers 6 bachelor's degrees a year, 3% of the 181 awarded across South Dakota at this level.
- CPR and AED certification course
- Two semester practicum requirement
- Pre-PT and Pre-OT pathway
- Optional business degree pairing
- $45,240 total cost of attendance
- Graduation rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 73%
- In-state tuition
- $32,500
- Out-of-state tuition
- $32,500
- Cost of attendance
- $45,240
- Undergrad enrollment
- 771
- Degrees conferred
- 6
View Dakota Wesleyan University's Exercise Science www.dwu.edu
Every Bachelor's in Kinesiology Program in South Dakota Compared
The same scores in one readout. Tuition is the published in-state rate before aid.
| # | School | City | Grad rate | Admit rate | In-state | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Augustana University | Sioux Falls | 73% | 68% | $39,100 | |
| 02 | University of South Dakota | Vermillion | 60% | 99% | $7,773 | |
| 03 | University of Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls | 63% | 83% | $21,150 | |
| 04 | South Dakota State University | Brookings | 62% | 98% | $7,773 | |
| 05 | Dakota State University | Madison | 51% | 88% | $7,616 | |
| 06 | Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell | 48% | 73% | $32,500 | |
A blank cell means the institution did not file that figure with IPEDS.
What Kinesiology Careers Pay in South Dakota
Occupational medians for everyone in the job, not starting pay and not outcomes for any one program.
Exercise Physiologists in South Dakota
- South Dakota median
- $51,630
- vs national
- −$7,830
- Employed in SD
- 30
- 10th to 90th
- $48,390 – $71,540
Exercise Physiologists in South Dakota earn a median of $51,630, $7,830 below the national median of $59,460, across 30 jobs in the state. The bottom tenth earn under $48,390 and the top tenth clear $71,540, so the median is a midpoint rather than an offer.
Every South Dakota Occupation This Field Feeds, by Median Wage
| Occupation | SD median | vs national | Jobs in SD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | $92,660 | −$10,100 | 1,060 |
| Occupational Therapists | $85,050 | −$15,280 | 490 |
| Athletic Trainers | $58,620 | −$3,900 | 150 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $51,630 | −$7,830 | 30 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $49,310 | −$19,070 | 300 |
| Recreational Therapists | $46,850 | −$15,110 | 40 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $40,070 | −$7,090 | 950 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $36,360 | −$10,960 | 1,290 |
Of the 8 occupations in this field that BLS prices for South Dakota, Physical Therapists pays the most at $92,660 ($10,100 below its national median). The largest employer of the 8 is Coaches and Scouts, at 1,290 jobs in the state paying a median of $36,360. None of the 8 with a national comparison pays above its national median here, which is the single most useful thing to know before committing to staying in South Dakota.
What Careers Can You Get With a Bachelor's in Kinesiology?
These 5 occupations list this credential, or less, as their typical entry requirement. The other 3 need further study, and each page says what. Figures are South Dakota’s own BLS medians where published.
- Physical Therapist$92,660 median in South Dakota · needs doctoral degree
- Occupational Therapist$85,050 median in South Dakota · needs master's degree
- Athletic Trainer$58,620 median in South Dakota · needs master's degree
- Exercise Physiologist$51,630 median in South Dakota · reachable at this level
- Physical Therapist Assistant$49,310 median in South Dakota · reachable at this level
- Recreational Therapist$46,850 median in South Dakota · reachable at this level
- Fitness Trainer or Group Instructor$40,070 median in South Dakota · reachable at this level
- Coach or Scout$36,360 median in South Dakota · reachable at this level
Entry requirements are O*NET’s typical-entry field; wages are BLS OEWS. Neither is a guarantee about any individual program’s graduates.
Rank 1 here is highest scoring in South Dakota, not nationally; each card carries its national rank as well. Every program on this site is ranked the same way — see how we compare them.
Sources for this page
Bachelor's in Kinesiology Programs Near South Dakota
The same ranking, filtered to one state at a time. The number is how many programs that state ranks.