St. Cloud State University vs. NSU

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

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Location Saint Cloud, MN Aberdeen, SD
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 10,420 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $10,718
Room & Board $9,950 $9,150
Avg Net Price $14,065 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 1,322
Admitted 4,583 1,033
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 78.1%
Enrolled % 16.8% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 1027/1200 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Graduation Rate 48% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $232 $252

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University NSU
% Men 43% 37%
% Women 57% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 83%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 St. Cloud State University NSU
% In-State 75% 69%
% Out-of-State 11% 30%

Campus

 St. Cloud State University NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 3,344 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or NSU?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 15.7% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.4% higher at St. Cloud State University than Northern State University ($18,695.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than NSU ($14,065 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 8.7% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($9,150 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Northern State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 5.7% larger than aid received Northern State University ($6,042 vs. $5,715)

St. Cloud State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Saint Cloud State University (1030) is 6 points higher than at NSU (1024)
  • Incoming St. Cloud State University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than NSU (78.1%)

St. Cloud State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Northern State University (48% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $9,300 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $37,400)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $1,899 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,399)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($232 vs. $252)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)

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