DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/health-and-physical-education/exercise-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 31.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0
Best Schools for Exercise Science in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall exercise science education in South Dakota.
Top Schools in Exercise Science
University Of South Dakota tops our 2026 ranking of the best exercise science schools. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Dakota awarded about 88 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $51,566. Students borrow a median of $26,322 to complete this degree.
Get the full exercise science details for University Of South Dakota
South Dakota State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best exercise science schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 55 exercise science degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from South Dakota State University earn around $41,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
Get the full exercise science details for South Dakota State University
Augustana College South Dakota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College South Dakota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their exercise science degree from Augustana College South Dakota earn around $50,088 in the first couple years of their career. Augustana College South Dakota graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
See the full exercise science program report for Augustana College South Dakota
A rank of #4 makes University Of Sioux Falls one of the top schools for exercise science. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit institution. University Of Sioux Falls graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 exercise science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Sioux Falls in the most recent data year. Graduates of the exercise science program make about $34,839 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,146 to complete this degree.
Read more about the exercise science program at University Of Sioux Falls
Dakota State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in exercise science, ranking #5. Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madison. About 49% of students finish within six years. Dakota State University awarded about 10 exercise science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, exercise science degree recipients from Dakota State University generally make around $51,970. Students borrow a median of $28,724 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in exercise science from Dakota State University
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
ADBLOCK #116