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Northern State University

NSU

Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-7198

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Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege town

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
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

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate92.8%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1824

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

92.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1090

Yield Rate

35.0%

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

7700.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

8

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Programs (60)

Student Life

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
Forbes
#52

More About This School

Varsity Sports

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

90Average

Estimated from SD state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Minneapolispop. 430K
256 mi(444 min)
Kansas Citypop. 500K
482 mi(835 min)
Denverpop. 710K
515 mi(893 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Northern State University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications