Compare 7 Sports Studies. programs in South Dakota. Average earnings: $39,020.
With top graduates earning $50,215, Sports Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $11K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
South Dakota State University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $50,215, well above the state average of $39,020. Augustana University follows at $44,368, while Northern State University produces graduates earning $42,292—demonstrating that program-level factors drive outcomes across different institution types.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. South Dakota State graduates borrow $23,250 and face just an 11.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, proving top programs can also be affordable.
Highest program earnings: $50,215
Strong outcomes with 98.7% acceptance
11.5% payment burden | Good
21.8% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $50,215 | 26 | $23,250 | Good | $18,000 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Augustana UniversityPrivate | $44,368 | 38 | $25,000 | Manageable | $23,546 | High |
| #3 | $42,292 | 24 | $22,320 | Manageable | $12,500 | High | |
| #4 | University Of Sioux FallsPrivate | $42,021 | 28 | $23,249 | Manageable | $18,000 | High |
| #5 | $38,062 | 33 | $26,000 | Challenging | $11,908 | High | |
| #6 | Dakota Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $33,993 | 15 | $27,000 | High | $18,191 | High |
| #7 | Dakota State UniversityPublic | $22,192 | 11 | $23,500 | High | $15,085 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
