MSU vs. NSU

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

 MSU NSU
Location Minot, ND Aberdeen, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,777 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #726 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website minotstateu.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,168 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $7,168 $10,718
Room & Board $7,180 $9,150
Avg Net Price $12,360 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $5,542 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 91%

Admission

 MSU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 498 1,322
Admitted 464 1,033
Acceptance Rate 93.2% 78.1%
Enrolled % 81.5% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22 18/24
SAT Range 992/1178 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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 MSU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 MSU NSU
Graduation Rate 34% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,725 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $193 $252

Diversity

 MSU NSU
% Men 35% 37%
% Women 65% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 83%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 2% 3%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 13% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 MSU NSU
% In-State 72% 69%
% Out-of-State 21% 30%

Campus

 MSU 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 MSU based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 2,777 students)

MSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 6.2% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.5% higher at NSU than Minot State University ($10,718.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minot State University than NSU ($12,360 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minot State University are 27.4% lower than costs at Northern State University ($7,180 vs. $9,150)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Minot State University as Northern State University (91% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 3.1% larger than aid received Minot State University ($5,715 vs. $5,542)

MSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 25 points higher than at MSU (999)
  • Incoming MSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than NSU (78.1%)

MSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU 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 MSU.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Minot State University (42% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minot State University earn on average $7,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $37,400)
  • Minot State University students graduate with a $5,674 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($18,725 vs. $24,399)
  • MSU graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($193 vs. $252)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

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