NCAT vs. NSU

Should I go to North Carolina A & T State University or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NCAT 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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North Carolina A & T State University vs. Northern State University comparison
North Carolina A & T State University Northern State University College 3 College 4
North Carolina A & T State University
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Overview

NCAT NSU
Location Greensboro, NC Aberdeen, SD
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,487 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #985 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ncat.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NCAT NSU
Tuition (In State) $3,540 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $17,050 $10,718
Room & Board $9,179 $9,150
Avg Net Price $9,189 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $10,082 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 91%

Admission

NCAT NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,762 1,322
Admitted 14,526 1,033
Acceptance Rate 56.4% 78.1%
Enrolled % 21.2% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 18/24
SAT Range 960/1140 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 1, 2025

Academics

NCAT NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

NCAT NSU
Graduation Rate 41% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $299 $252

Diversity

NCAT NSU
% Men 38% 37%
% Women 62% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 5% 83%
% Black 84% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

NCAT NSU
% In-State 57% 69%
% Out-of-State 41% 30%

Campus

NCAT 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

  • North Carolina A & T State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,487 students vs. 3,344 students)

NCAT vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCAT or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 115.1% more expensive to attend than NCAT for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $3,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.1% higher at NCAT than Northern State University ($17,050.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina A & T State University than NSU ($9,189 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 0.3% lower than costs at North Carolina A & T State University ($9,150 vs. $9,179)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina A & T State University than Northern State University (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina A & T State University students is 76.4% larger than aid received Northern State University ($10,082 vs. $5,715)

NCAT vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 114 points higher than at NCAT (910)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NCAT (19)
  • Accepted freshman NCAT students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than NCAT (56.4%)

NCAT vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NCAT 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 NCAT.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than North Carolina A & T State University (42% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina A & T State University earn on average $700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $37,400)
  • Northern State University students graduate with a $4,601 lower median federal student loan debt than NCAT graduates. ($24,399 vs. $29,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than NCAT graduates. ($252 vs. $299)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCAT students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 27%)

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