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Northern State University

NSU

Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-7198

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublic

Known for business — close-knit campus

Northern State University is a public institution in Aberdeen with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1090, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.2K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

52% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $47,618 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $17,094.

Established

1901

Motto

Unleash your potentialJoin the pack

Mascot

Thunder the Wolf

Type

Public university

Conference

Northern Sun

Division

Division II

Campus Visits

25 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour

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93%Acceptance

1090SAT Avg

1,239Students

17:1Student:Faculty

52%Grad Rate

$47,618Earnings 10yr

$17,094Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Northern State University Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate92.8%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21

1824

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

92.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1090

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$8,845

Tuition (out-of-state)$11,947

Room & Board$10,300

Books & Supplies$1,200

Total Cost of Attendance$22,223

Average Net Price$17,094

Median Debt at Graduation$22,320

Monthly Payment (10yr)$237

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$13,560

$30–48K$14,226

$48–75K$16,444

$75–110K$19,236

$110K+$18,673

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$17,094

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

76.7%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,750

SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

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Programs (60)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

1,239

Gender Split

58% / 42%

Women / Men

First Generation

31%

Pell Grant Recipients

12%

Race & Ethnicity

White 80%

Black 4%

Hispanic 5%

Asian 2%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate52.2%

Freshman Retention75.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,536

8 Years$42,830

10 Years$47,618

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$32,400

Men

$43,800

Rankings

U.S. News

#45

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Forbes

#52

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Niche

#38

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More About This School

Varsity Sports

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History & Fun Facts

•In the 1885 legislative session, a bill was passed creating what was then known as the University of Central Dakota in the small town of Ordway, South Dakota.
•Funds were approved for the school in the 1887 legislative session, but Governor Louis K.
•In 1900 Aberdeen had the fastest-growing population in northern South Dakota and advocates for school began to organize in greater numbers.
•On March 2, 1899, the new school existed on paper, but both a site and funding were still needed.
•The committee met through most of early 1899 and adjourned in late spring before making a decision.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°

Sep

55°

Oct

42°

Nov

30°

Dec

25°

Jan

28°

Feb

38°

Mar

50°

Apr

62°

May

Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647

90 miles(95 min)

Hartfordpop. 121,054

60 miles(70 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul259 mi

MCI Kansas City467 mi

DEN Denver498 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1375 mi · ~39h 43m drive

New York, NY1272 mi · ~36h 45m drive

Hartford, CT1310 mi · ~37h 51m drive

Providence, RI1370 mi · ~39h 35m drive

Albany, NY1238 mi · ~35h 46m drive

Syracuse, NY1114 mi · ~32h 11m drive

Rochester, NY1041 mi · ~30h 4m drive

Buffalo, NY985 mi · ~28h 27m drive

Philadelphia, PA1238 mi · ~35h 46m drive

Pittsburgh, PA994 mi · ~28h 43m drive

Harrisburg, PA1147 mi · ~33h 8m drive

Newark, NJ1264 mi · ~36h 31m drive

Washington, DC1183 mi · ~34h 11m drive

Baltimore, MD1190 mi · ~34h 23m drive

Atlanta, GA1100 mi · ~31h 47m drive

Charlotte, NC1163 mi · ~33h 36m drive

Raleigh, NC1232 mi · ~35h 35m drive

Miami, FL1696 mi · ~49h drive

Orlando, FL1496 mi · ~43h 13m drive

Tampa, FL1494 mi · ~43h 10m drive

Nashville, TN885 mi · ~25h 34m drive

New Orleans, LA1164 mi · ~33h 38m drive

Richmond, VA1214 mi · ~35h 4m drive

Chicago, IL595 mi · ~17h 11m drive

Detroit, MI797 mi · ~23h 1m drive

Minneapolis, MN256 mi · ~7h 24m drive

St. Louis, MO634 mi · ~18h 19m drive

Kansas City, MO482 mi · ~13h 55m drive

Indianapolis, IN738 mi · ~21h 19m drive

Columbus, OH871 mi · ~25h 10m drive

Cleveland, OH883 mi · ~25h 31m drive

Milwaukee, WI549 mi · ~15h 52m drive

Dallas, TX880 mi · ~25h 25m drive

Houston, TX1097 mi · ~31h 41m drive

Austin, TX1050 mi · ~30h 20m drive

San Antonio, TX1107 mi · ~31h 59m drive

Los Angeles, CA1306 mi · ~37h 44m drive

San Francisco, CA1339 mi · ~38h 41m drive

San Diego, CA1327 mi · ~38h 20m drive

Seattle, WA1139 mi · ~32h 54m drive

Portland, OR1168 mi · ~33h 45m drive

Denver, CO515 mi · ~14h 53m drive

Phoenix, AZ1098 mi · ~31h 43m drive

Salt Lake City, UT749 mi · ~21h 38m drive

Honolulu, HI3711 mi · ~107h 12m drive

Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Budget

University Inn10% campus visitor discount

$89-129

0.5 mi

Mid-Range

Marriott Conference Center

Upscale

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)259 miles

Rental car

389 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

518 min$311-518

Kansas City (MCI)467 miles

Rental car

701 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

934 min$560-934

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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Northern State University Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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Northern State University Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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