Union College vs. NSU

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

 Union College NSU
Location Lincoln, NE Aberdeen, SD
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 694 3,344
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #820
Religious Affiliation Seventh Day Adventists - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucollege.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Union College NSU
Tuition (In State) $25,920 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $25,920 $10,718
Room & Board $7,750 $9,150
Avg Net Price $23,462 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $15,293 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 Union College NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 940 1,322
Admitted 929 1,033
Acceptance Rate 98.8% 78.1%
Enrolled % 9.8% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 980/1130 800/1150
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Union College NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (38%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Union College NSU
Graduation Rate 33% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $279 $252

Diversity

 Union College NSU
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 83%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 18% 4%
% Native American 1% 3%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Union College NSU
% In-State 22% 69%
% Out-of-State 59% 30%

Campus

 Union College 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 Union College based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 694 students)

Union College vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or NSU?

  • Union College is 240.3% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($25,920.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 141.8% higher at Union College than Northern State University ($25,920.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than Union College ($17,264 vs. $23,462)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 18.1% lower than costs at Northern State University ($7,750 vs. $9,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Northern State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 167.6% larger than aid received Northern State University ($15,293 vs. $5,715)

Union College vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Union College (1050) is 26 points higher than at NSU (1024)
  • Incoming Union College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than NSU (78.1%)

Union College vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Union College 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 Union College.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Union College (42% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $8,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $37,400)
  • Northern State University students graduate with a $2,601 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($24,399 vs. $27,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 58%)

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