Bachelor's · Spearfish, South Dakota

Is Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness at Black Hills State University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 7 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $34,884; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $59,745; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $19,500; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $82k (likely $82k – $112k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $21k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in SD; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 7 years (likely 4.9–10.4); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$89k (likely −$193k – $16k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $177k (likely −$27k – $409k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 42%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness at other schools

🏃 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward sports, fitness & wellness majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP Biology
AP Psychology
AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

Sports, Exercise and Health Science HL
Biology HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.