UNK vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, NE with Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nebraska at Kearney is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (5,881 students vs. 3,708 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UNK vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK 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 Northern State University than UNK ($15,990 vs. $16,287).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 13.1% lower than at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($10,600 vs. $12,198).
• Northern State University is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNK (about $169 more per year; $8,845.00 vs. $8,676.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at UNK than at Northern State University (about $3,337 more per year; $15,284.00 vs. $11,947.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern State University than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (97% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 51.8% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($9,776 vs. $6,441).

UNK vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNK 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 UNK.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern State University (1070) is 50 points higher than at UNK (1020).
• Incoming UNK students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at NSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 905/1125; Northern State University 980/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 19/26; Northern State University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNK - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNK Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at UNK (3.24).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than UNK (89.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at UNK vs. 35.2% at NSU.

UNK vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNK 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).

• University of Nebraska at Kearney's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Northern State University's (42%).
• Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nebraska at Kearney graduates have a $3,149 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($21,250 vs. $24,399).
• Among borrowers, UNK graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($219 vs. $252).
• More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)

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.