Georgia Southwestern vs. NSU

Should I go to Georgia Southwestern State University or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Georgia Southwestern 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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Georgia Southwestern State University vs. Northern State University comparison
Georgia Southwestern State University Northern State University College 3 College 4
Georgia Southwestern State University
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Overview

Georgia Southwestern NSU
Location Americus, GA Aberdeen, SD
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 3,070 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #908 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gsw.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Georgia Southwestern NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $10,718
Room & Board $8,978 $9,150
Avg Net Price $12,186 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $9,472 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

Georgia Southwestern NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,939 1,322
Admitted 1,419 1,033
Acceptance Rate 73.2% 78.1%
Enrolled % 34.2% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.37
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1010/1160 800/1150
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 21, 2025

Academics

Georgia Southwestern NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (3%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Georgia Southwestern NSU
Graduation Rate 30% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $227 $252

Diversity

Georgia Southwestern NSU
% Men 33% 37%
% Women 67% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 83%
% Black 29% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Georgia Southwestern NSU
% In-State 95% 69%
% Out-of-State 4% 30%

Campus

Georgia Southwestern 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 Georgia Southwestern based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 3,070 students)

Georgia Southwestern vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia Southwestern or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 87.4% more expensive to attend than Georgia Southwestern for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38% higher at Georgia Southwestern than Northern State University ($14,786.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia Southwestern State University than NSU ($12,186 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southwestern State University are 1.9% lower than costs at Northern State University ($8,978 vs. $9,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia Southwestern State University than Northern State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia Southwestern State University students is 65.7% larger than aid received Northern State University ($9,472 vs. $5,715)

Georgia Southwestern vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 57 points higher than at Georgia Southwestern (967)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Georgia Southwestern (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Georgia Southwestern (3.17)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Georgia Southwestern (73.2%)

Georgia Southwestern vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Georgia Southwestern 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 Georgia Southwestern.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Georgia Southwestern State University (42% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Georgia Southwestern State University earn on average $700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,400)
  • Georgia Southwestern State University students graduate with a $2,399 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,399)
  • Georgia Southwestern graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($227 vs. $252)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia Southwestern students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

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