Health and Physical Education/Fitness at University of Sioux Falls

The University of Sioux Falls produces health and physical education graduates who earn substantially more than the national average—$34,839 ranks in the 78th percentile—but still trail behind South Dakota's other major options. Within the state, where the median sits at $37,481, this program lands at the 40th percentile, with Northern State and South Dakota State delivering roughly $6,000-7,000 more annually. That gap widens to nearly $8,000 by year four, when USF graduates earn $42,021. For a field where starting salaries hover around $35,000, the $24,146 debt load is manageable (a 0.69 ratio), but families paying private tuition should understand they're not getting an earnings premium over South Dakota's public universities.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means one or two career outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is considering teaching or coaching in South Dakota public schools, salary scales will largely determine earnings regardless of which state institution they attend. The real question becomes whether USF's smaller class sizes and faith-based environment justify paying more when SDSU's graduates are earning $41,000 right out of the gate. Unless campus fit is paramount, the state's flagship appears to offer better ROI in this field.