DSU vs. NSU

Should I go to Dickinson State University or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DSU or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Dickinson State University vs. Northern State University comparison
Dickinson State University Northern State University College 3 College 4
Dickinson State University
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Overview

DSU NSU
Location Dickinson, ND Aberdeen, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,473 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #736 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dickinsonstate.com northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

DSU NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,470 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $9,570 $10,718
Room & Board $7,740 $9,150
Avg Net Price $14,971 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $5,391 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 91%

Admission

DSU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 729 1,322
Admitted 525 1,033
Acceptance Rate 72% 78.1%
Enrolled % 46.1% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.11 3.37
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 18/24
SAT Range 875/1130 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

DSU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

DSU NSU
Graduation Rate 26% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,800 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,781 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $194 $252

Diversity

DSU NSU
% Men 45% 37%
% Women 55% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

DSU NSU
% In-State 51% 69%
% Out-of-State 46% 30%

Campus

DSU NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern State University is larger than than DSU based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 1,473 students)

DSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSU or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 2% more expensive to attend than DSU for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $7,470.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12% higher at NSU than Dickinson State University ($10,718.00 vs. $9,570.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dickinson State University than NSU ($14,971 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson State University are 18.2% lower than costs at Northern State University ($7,740 vs. $9,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dickinson State University than Northern State University (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 6% larger than aid received Dickinson State University ($5,715 vs. $5,391)

DSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DSU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or DSU .

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 73 points higher than at DSU (951)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at DSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at DSU (3.11)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than DSU (72%)

DSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DSU 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 DSU.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Dickinson State University (42% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Dickinson State University earn on average $9,400 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($46,800 vs. $37,400)
  • Dickinson State University students graduate with a $5,618 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($18,781 vs. $24,399)
  • DSU graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($194 vs. $252)
  • More DSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/