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South Dakota State University Dakota Wesleyan University USD Northwest Pitt State Winona State University Augustana| Dakota State University | Northern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
| Location | Madison, SD | Aberdeen, SD | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,241 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #808 | #820 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | dsu.edu | northern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,616 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,718 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,018 | $9,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,977 | $17,264 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,467 | $5,715 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 91% |
Admission |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 882 | 1,322 | ||
| Admitted | 696 | 1,033 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.9% | 78.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 53.4% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.33 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/27 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1240 | 800/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 34% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,200 | $37,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $24,399 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $252 |
Diversity |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 64% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 36% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 39% | 30% | ||
Campus |
Dakota State | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern State University is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 3,241 students)
Dakota State vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Dakota State or NSU?
- Dakota State University and NSU cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at Dakota State as Northern State University ($10,718.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than Dakota State ($17,264 vs. $17,977)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 14.1% lower than costs at Northern State University ($8,018 vs. $9,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than Northern State University (92% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 4.5% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($5,715 vs. $5,467)
Dakota State vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Dakota State or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Dakota State .
- The average SAT score at Dakota State University (1047) is 23 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming Dakota State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
- Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than NSU (78.1%)
Dakota State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Dakota State or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and Dakota State.
- The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Dakota State University (42% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Dakota State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $37,400)
- Dakota State University students graduate with a $899 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,399)
- Dakota State graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($242 vs. $252)
- More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/