Northern State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About Northern State University

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: No

Accreditation: regional

Northern State University is a small public university located on a campus in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,932, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 93%. The university offers 42 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 55%, and a student-faculty ratio of 17:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,616, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $10,718.

Aberdeen, SD

$7,616

Avg in-state
tuition

$10,718

Avg out-of-state
tuition

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Admissions Breakdown

75%

Retention Rate Insight

75% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

55%

Graduation Rate Insight

55% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresNot required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankRequired to be considered for admission

Letter of recommendationNot required for admission, but considered if submitted

High school GPARequired to be considered for admission

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required to be considered for admission

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Yes

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile18-24

SAT 25th-75th Percentile800-1150

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

4k

Students enrolled

60%

Online student enrollment

17:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

28%

Unknown

0%

Black

1%

Hispanic

2%

Two or more races

1%

Non-U.S. Citizen

1%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

31% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

31%

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

29

Total Online Enrollment

2,099

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

63% On-campus

37% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesCheck Bold23% online

AssociateCheck Bold57% online

Bachelor'sCheck Bold21% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold71% online

Master'sCheck Bold80% online

DoctorateX BoldNot offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

51%

State Grant Aid

13%

Institution Grant Aid

76%

Pell Grant

31%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$4,545
State Grant Aid$1,279
Institution Grant Aid$3,518
Pell Grant Aid$4,723

Financial Outlook

$22k

Average student debtafter graduation

$33k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

15.6%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Wrestling
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
2Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
3Education.
4English Language And Literature/Letters.
5Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
6Health Professions And Related Programs.
7History.
8Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
9Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
10Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
11Physical Sciences.
12Psychology.
13Social Sciences.
14Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.