Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · Public four-year · Town: Remote
2,932undergraduates
93%admitted
Test-optionalSAT/ACT
$16,873average net price per year
55%graduate in 6 years
75%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 1,082
- Admitted
- 1,004
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Admit rate, women
- 93%
- Admit rate, men
- 92%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 32%
- First-year students
- 319
- SAT/ACT
- Test-optional
- Students who sent SAT scores
- 1%
- Students who sent ACT scores
- 82%
- ACT composite (middle 50%)
- 18-24
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Considered, not required |
| Recommendations | Considered, not required |
| Essay or personal statement | Considered, not required |
| Class rank | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Not considered |
Majors
36 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (6)
- Accounting Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Banking and Financial Support Services Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Associate (4 awarded), Bachelor's (25 awarded)
- Finance, General Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- International Business/Trade/Commerce Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
Education (10)
- Biology Teacher Education Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Associate (2 awarded)
- Elementary Education and Teaching Bachelor's (33 awarded)
- English/Language Arts Teacher Education Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- History Teacher Education Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Music Teacher Education Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Social Studies Teacher Education Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Special Education and Teaching, General Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Biological and biomedical sciences (4)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Certificate (under 1 year) (11 awarded), Bachelor's (21 awarded)
- Biotechnology Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Associate (1 awarded)
- Ecology Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Bachelor's (17 awarded)
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (1)
- General Studies Associate (14 awarded), Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Psychology (1)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (18 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (1)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Associate (4 awarded), Bachelor's (12 awarded)
Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology (1)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management Bachelor's (12 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (2)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Rhetoric and Composition Bachelor's (3 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (5)
- Art/Art Studies, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Fine and Studio Arts Management Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Graphic Design Associate (2 awarded), Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Music, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
Social sciences (2)
- Political Science and Government, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (5 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Bachelor's (5 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other Bachelor's (3 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (1)
- Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist Bachelor's (1 awarded)
Graduate programs (11)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services Master's
- Curriculum and Instruction Master's
- Educational Administration and Supervision, Other Master's
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Post-bachelor's certificate
- Educational/Instructional Technology Master's
- Music Teacher Education Master's
- Special Education and Teaching, General Master's
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General Master's
- Financial Mathematics Master's
- Banking and Financial Support Services Master's
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Master's
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $8,845
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $11,947
- Housing and food on campus
- $10,300
- Books and supplies
- $1,200
- Other on-campus costs
- $3,000
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $23,345
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $26,447
- Total cost living at home
- $13,045
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $13,560 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $14,226 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $16,444 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $19,236 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,673 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 98%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 93%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $5,565
- Got a grant from the college
- 83%
- Average grant from the college
- $3,889
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 12%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 61%
- Average amount borrowed
- $6,320
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 32%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 52%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 55%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 59%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 52%
- Transferred to another college
- 21%
- Came back for year two
- 75%
| Pell grant students | 41% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 58% |
| Neither | 61% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 142 | 59% |
| Men | 127 | 50% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 8 | 25% (small group) |
| Asian | 2 | 100% (small group) |
| Black | 5 | 20% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 4 | 25% (small group) |
| White | 234 | 58% |
| Two or more races | 7 | 29% (small group) |
| International | 9 | 44% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 303 | 50% | 26% |
| Started here, part-time | 33 | 15% | 39% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 123 | 56% | 4% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 44 | 32% | 16% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 3,521
- Undergraduates
- 2,932
- Full-time undergraduates
- 1,033
- Part-time undergraduates
- 1,899
- Graduate students
- 589
- Students per faculty member
- 17 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 72%
- From out of state
- 28%
- From other countries
- 1%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 7%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 39%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 4%
| Women | 60% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1% |
| Asian | 2% |
| Black | 2% |
| Hispanic | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 84% |
| Two or more races | 3% |
| Race unknown | 2% |
| International | 2% |
Campus life
- Setting
- Town: Remote
- Address
- 1200 S Jay St, Aberdeen, SD, 57401-7198
- County
- Brown County
- Part of
- South Dakota Board of Regents
- Type
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
- Highest degree
- Master's degree
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- football, basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Online programs, Credit for AP exams
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.