U.S. median for this major: $53,336.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 46% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,752.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $22,077. College Scorecard.
NSU Kinesiology / Exercise Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Kinesiology / Exercise Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,762 | $48,214 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $12,087 | $54,150 | 3.1 years |
| $48–75k | $15,293 | $68,513 | 3.9 years |
| $75–110k | $18,372 | $82,307 | 4.7 years |
| $110k+ | $17,933 | $80,340 | 4.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($53,484) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SD (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,687 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Kinesiology / Exercise Science at South Dakota colleges
Every South Dakota college we cover that reports Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Sioux Falls | $63,466 | $24,146 | $21,383 | 63% |
| 2 | Augustana University | $58,906 | $24,625 | $23,894 | 73% |
| 3 | South Dakota State University | $56,400 | $25,500 | $19,841 | 62% |
| 4 | Black Hills State University | $55,622 | $24,000 | $15,911 | 43% |
| 5 | Northern State University | $53,484 | $24,500 | $15,812 | 49% |
4 more South Dakota colleges offer Kinesiology / Exercise Science but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates
Coaches and Scouts
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Exercise Physiologists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +12.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NSU
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 49% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $47,618
- Full cost breakdown · all 33 majors · overview
Related majors at NSU
- Biology$70,545
NSU Kinesiology / Exercise Science questions
How much do NSU Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates earn?
Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Northern State University earn a median $53,484 four years after graduating and $40,123 one year after. The U.S. median for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates across 602 colleges is $53,336.
How much debt do NSU Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Northern State University is $24,500, about 46% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,752.
Is NSU a good school for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in South Dakota?
On pay, Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates of Northern State University earn $53,484 four years out, $2,916 below the median for the same major across 5 South Dakota colleges ($56,400) and $148 above the U.S. median ($53,336). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NSU rank for Kinesiology / Exercise Science in South Dakota?
Of 5 South Dakota colleges reporting Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduate earnings, Northern State University ranks 5th. The highest is University of Sioux Falls at $63,466.
What jobs do Kinesiology / Exercise Science graduates get?
A common career is coaches and scouts, with a median wage of $36,360 in South Dakota and $47,320 nationally. Others include entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling and exercise physiologists.
Is NSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing NSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Northern State University Kinesiology / Exercise Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-state-university/majors/kinesiology-exercise-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).