Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · Public · Town (remote) · NSU
Public institution in Aberdeen, SD · 1,239 undergraduates · 93% acceptance rate · $47,618 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 19%Out-of-state tuition & fees
- Top 23%In-state tuition & fees
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $17,094832nd cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $8,845465th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $11,947376th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $22,223515th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $22,320927th lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $47,6181,207th highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $41,5361,121st highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 52.2%1,062nd highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 75.1%962nd highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 92.8%1,326th most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1090704th highest of 1,022 reporting
- Median ACT
- 21701st highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,2391,240th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 17.0:11,581st smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 12.0%2,013th highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 259 mi (MSP)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 29 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $43,426 | $42,682 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation | bachelors | $41,342 | $38,289 |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $41,007 | $42,123 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $40,089 | $40,728 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation | bachelors | $37,856 | $39,523 |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $35,274 | $38,289 |
| MarketingBusiness | bachelors | $35,060 | $29,685 |
| SociologySocial Sciences | bachelors | $35,060 | $35,060 |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $34,298 | $35,060 |
| Fine and Studio ArtsVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | $25,194 | $28,598 |
| History | bachelors | $24,421 | — |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | $22,578 | $20,824 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1901source
- Athletic nickname: "Wolves"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Maroon and Goldsource
- Mascot: Thunder the Wolfsource
- Motto: "Unleash your potential / Join the pack"source
- Formerly known as "Northern Normal and Industrial School" (1901–1939)source
- Formerly known as "Northern State Teachers College" (1939–1964)source
- Formerly known as "Northern State College" (1964–1989)source
- Athletic conference: NSICsource
- Notable alum: Kristi Noemsource
Athletics — 9 sports
NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $2,027,507 (M $1,301,687 · W $725,820)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving (combined)
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Northern State University’s 1,239 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In SD
- University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SD · 1,258 undergrads
- Oglala Lakota CollegeKyle, SD · 1,156 undergrads
- National American University-Rapid CityRapid City, SD · 832 undergrads
- Mount Marty UniversityYankton, SD · 702 undergrads
- Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · 661 undergrads
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · 1,818 undergrads
Elsewhere
- Adams State UniversityAlamosa, CO · 1,239 undergrads
- Northern Marianas CollegeSaipan, MP · 1,236 undergrads
- Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA · 1,242 undergrads
- SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY · 1,242 undergrads
- Piedmont UniversityDemorest, GA · 1,235 undergrads
- Virginia Wesleyan UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · 1,243 undergrads
Key links
- Official websitenorthern.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 219259)
- Compare colleges in SDRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in South DakotaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with University of Sioux FallsSide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Northern State University vs University of Sioux FallsHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 9 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.