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South Dakota State University University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana Truman State Augustana University South Dakota School of Mines and Technology UNI ISU Iowa Dakota State| Northern State University | University of South Dakota | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NSU | USD | ||
| Location | Aberdeen, SD | Vermillion, SD | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,344 | 9,856 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #820 | #597 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northern.edu | usd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NSU | USD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,616 | $7,773 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $10,718 | $11,283 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,150 | $8,224 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,264 | $18,378 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,715 | $6,308 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 79% |
Admission |
NSU | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,322 | 4,480 | ||
| Admitted | 1,033 | 4,456 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.1% | 99.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 800/1150 | 1020/1300 | ||
| 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 |
NSU | USD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NSU | USD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $48,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,399 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $252 | $258 |
Diversity |
NSU | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
NSU | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 69% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 30% | 43% | ||
Campus |
NSU | USD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Dakota is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 3,344 students)
NSU vs. USD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NSU or USD?
- University of South Dakota is 2.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,773.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.3% higher at USD than Northern State University ($11,283.00 vs. $10,718.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than USD ($17,264 vs. $18,378)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 11.3% lower than costs at Northern State University ($8,224 vs. $9,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than University of South Dakota (91% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Dakota students is 10.4% larger than aid received Northern State University ($6,308 vs. $5,715)
NSU vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NSU or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or NSU .
- The average SAT score at University of South Dakota (1049) is 25 points higher than at NSU (1024)
- Incoming USD students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
- Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at NSU (3.37)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than NSU (78.1%)
NSU vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NSU or USD? 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 USD and NSU.
- The graduation rate at USD is higher than Northern State University (47% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $10,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $37,400)
- Northern State University students graduate with a $601 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($24,399 vs. $25,000)
- NSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
- More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/