Pitt State vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

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

Pittsburg State University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (5,755 students vs. 3,708 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, KS (Distant Town setting); Northern State University is in Aberdeen, SD (Remote Town setting).
• Pittsburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pittsburg State University 14:1; Northern State University 19:1.

Pitt State vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt State 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 Pittsburg State University than NSU ($15,111 vs. $15,990).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pittsburg State University are 3.5% lower than at Northern State University ($10,234 vs. $10,600).
• Northern State University is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt State (about $445 more per year; $8,845.00 vs. $8,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.3% higher at Pitt State than at Northern State University (about $7,797 more per year; $19,744.00 vs. $11,947.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern State University than at Pittsburg State University (97% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburg State University students is 1% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($6,504 vs. $6,441).

Pitt State vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt State 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 Pitt State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthern State University 980/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthern State University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt State - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Pitt State students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at NSU (3.37).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than Pitt State (89.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.9% at Pitt State vs. 35.2% at NSU.

Pitt State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt State 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).

• Pittsburg State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Northern State University's (42%).
• Graduates from Pittsburg State University earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pittsburg State University graduates have a $4,399 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,000 vs. $24,399).
• Among borrowers, Pitt State graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($206 vs. $252).
• More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt State students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 61%)

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.