Northern State University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
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 rural campus in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,867, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 80%. The university offers 41 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 48%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $7,616, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $10,718.
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
80% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
68% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
48% 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 scoresConsidered (not required)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankRequired
Letter of recommendationConsidered (not required)
High school GPARequired
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRequired
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required
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 Percentile1020-1190
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
4k
Students enrolled
62%
Online student enrollment
16:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
86%
Unknown
0%
Black
2%
Hispanic
4%
Two or more races
3%
Non-U.S. Citizen
2%
Asian
2%
American Indian/Alaska Native
1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
30% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
19
Total Online Enrollment
2,056
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.62% online, 38% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
71% On-campus
29% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
Associate67% online
Bachelor's20% online
Graduate Certificate67% online
Master's63% online
DoctorateNot offered
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-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 Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| 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 board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-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
42%
State Grant Aid
19%
Institution Grant Aid
77%
Pell Grant
30%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$22k
Average student debtafter graduation
$33k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Wrestling
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Volleyball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 2 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 3 | Education. | |||
| 4 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 5 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 6 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences. | |||
| 7 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 8 | History | |||
| 9 | History. | |||
| 10 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 11 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 12 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 13 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies. | |||
| 14 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 15 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 16 | Psychology. | |||
| 17 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 18 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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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.