JC vs. NSU

Deciding between University of Jamestown and Northern State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • JC Jamestown, ND
  • NSU Aberdeen, SD
  • Setting
  • JC Remote Town
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • JC 1,376
  • NSU 3,708
  • Type
  • JC Private 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JC #760
  • NSU #921
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JC Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • JC Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JC
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JC $24,990
  • NSU $8,845
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JC $24,990
  • NSU $11,947
  • Room & Board
  • JC $9,990
  • NSU $10,600
  • Average Net Price
  • JC $20,510
  • NSU $15,990
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JC $17,548
  • NSU $6,441
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JC 100%
  • NSU 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JC 965
  • NSU 1,086
  • Admitted
  • JC 850
  • NSU 1,010
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JC 88.1%
  • NSU 93%
  • Enrolled
  • JC 36.1%
  • NSU 35.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JC 1020
  • NSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • JC 20
  • NSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • JC 3.25
  • NSU 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JC B+
  • NSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • JC Very Easy
  • NSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • JC
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • JC 17/24
  • NSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • JC 900/1140
  • NSU 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JC Test-free
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JC
  • NSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JC 13:1
  • NSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JC
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • NSU
    • Business (35%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JC 43%
  • NSU 42%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JC $47,800
  • NSU $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JC 79%
  • NSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JC $26,000
  • NSU $24,399
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JC $268
  • NSU $252

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JC 52%
  • NSU 38%
  • % Women
  • JC 48%
  • NSU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JC Low
  • NSU Low
  • HBCU
  • JC No
  • NSU No
  • % White
  • JC 78%
  • NSU 83%
  • % Asian
  • JC 1%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Black
  • JC 6%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • JC 7%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • JC 1%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JC 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JC 0%
  • NSU 2%
  • % International
  • JC 6%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JC 0%
  • NSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JC 39%
  • NSU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JC 50%
  • NSU 26%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • JC Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • JC No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • JC Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • JC No
  • NSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • JC No
  • NSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Jamestown in Jamestown, ND with Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern State University is larger than JC based on total student enrollment (3,708 students vs. 1,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Jamestown is located in Jamestown, ND (Remote Town setting); Northern State University is in Aberdeen, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Jamestown is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Jamestown 13:1; Northern State University 19:1.

JC vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JC or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than JC ($15,990 vs. $20,510).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Jamestown are 5.8% lower than at Northern State University ($9,990 vs. $10,600).
  • University of Jamestown is 182.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $16,145 more per year; $24,990.00 vs. $8,845.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.2% higher at JC than at Northern State University (about $13,043 more per year; $24,990.00 vs. $11,947.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Jamestown than at Northern State University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Jamestown students is 172.4% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($17,548 vs. $6,441).

JC vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JC or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and JC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern State University (1070) is 50 points higher than at JC (1020).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at JC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Jamestown 900/1140; Northern State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Jamestown 17/24; Northern State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JC - Test-free; NSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at JC (3.25).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than JC (88.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at JC vs. 35.2% at NSU.

JC vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JC and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Jamestown's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Northern State University's (42%).
  • Graduates from University of Jamestown earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern State University graduates have a $1,601 lower median loan debt than JC graduates ($24,399 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JC graduates ($252 vs. $268).
  • More JC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.