Northern State University
Northern State University is a public research university in Aberdeen, South Dakota, enrolling about 1,273 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 93.00% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,618 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,845
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,812 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 93.00% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,273 82.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 48.94%
- Average SAT Score: 1089
Northern State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Northern State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northern State University?
Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, SD (ZIP 57401-7198).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Northern State University public or private?
Northern State University is a Public institution.
How much does Northern State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,845 in-state, $11,947 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,812.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,762 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,087 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,293 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,372 |
| $110,001+ | $17,933 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $35,380.
How hard is it to get into Northern State University?
Admission rate: 93.00%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1089 and midpoint ACT 21.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northern State University?
Total enrollment: 1,273 students.
About 82% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northern State University?
150%-time completion rate: 48.94%.
First-year retention: 77.0%.
What do graduates of Northern State University earn?
Median earnings: $41,536 six years after entry; $47,618 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,320.
12.45% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northern State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (387 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (33 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (33 completions)
- CIP 520201 (31 completions)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (21 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (20 completions)
- General Psychology (19 completions)
- CIP 240102 (18 completions)
- CIP 260908 (18 completions)
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research (17 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northern State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 93.00%; completion rate 48.94%; median earnings $47,618 at 10 years; net price $15,812. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$8,845
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northern State University was $8,845.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,812
2024 Value
In 2024 Northern State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,812.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,248 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,812 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$35,380 4-Year In-State Tuition
$47,788 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Northern State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
12.45% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
22.14% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northern State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northern State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,563 | $9,562 | $14,387 |
| 2014 | $7,563 | $10,042 | $14,597 |
| 2015 | $7,887 | $10,469 | $14,738 |
| 2016 | $7,887 | $10,800 | $14,667 |
| 2017 | $8,280 | $11,210 | $14,821 |
| 2018 | $8,497 | $11,470 | $15,934 |
| 2019 | $8,750 | $11,821 | $15,851 |
| 2020 | $8,750 | $11,821 | $16,695 |
| 2021 | $8,845 | $11,947 | $16,810 |
| 2022 | $8,845 | $11,947 | $17,523 |
| 2023 | $8,845 | $11,947 | $17,094 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
93.00% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1089
ACT Average: 21
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
82.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northern State University in 2024 is 1,273 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
34.51% 100% Completion Time
48.94% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 34.51% of students graduating from Northern State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northern State University.
Return on Investment
$22,320 Median Student Debt
$47,618 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
46.87% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
652.88% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northern State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Elementary Education & Teaching: 33 completions
General Biological Sciences: 33 completions
CIP 52.0201: 31 completions
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 21 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 20 completions
General Psychology: 19 completions
CIP 24.0102: 18 completions
CIP 26.0908: 18 completions
Natural Resources Conservation and Research: 17 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 387 completions
Most popular programs at Northern State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northern State University graduates.
About
Northern State University is a public institution located in Aberdeen, SD, offering 45 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 1,273 students. The admission rate is 93.00%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1089. The institution maintains a 48.94% graduation rate. Approximately 12.45% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Aberdeen, SD 57401-7198
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Northern State University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Northern State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $8,845 and average net price is $15,812 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Northern State University?
The admission rate is 93.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Northern State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northern State University reports midpoint SAT about 1089 and midpoint ACT about 21.
What do graduates of Northern State University earn?
Median earnings are $41,536 six years after entry and $47,618 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northern State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northern State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,320.
How big is Northern State University?
Total enrollment is about 1,273 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Northern State University public or private?
Northern State University is a public institution located in Aberdeen, SD.
Is Northern State University an HBCU?
No. Northern State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northern State University a tribal college?
No. Northern State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northern State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Northern State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.5%).
Is Northern State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Northern State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.