University of South Alabama vs. NDSU

Should I go to University of South Alabama or North Dakota State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Alabama or NDSU 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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University of South Alabama vs. North Dakota State University Main Campus comparison
University of South Alabama North Dakota State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

University of South Alabama NDSU
Location Mobile, AL Fargo, ND
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,438 12,242
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #568
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu ndsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama NDSU
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $9,309
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $13,963
Room & Board $8,510 $9,300
Avg Net Price $15,664 $15,962
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $5,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 77%

Admission

University of South Alabama NDSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 8,535
Admitted 8,203 8,166
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 95.7%
Enrolled % 19.7% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 19/25
SAT Range 1003/1200 968/1216
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama NDSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama NDSU
Graduation Rate 39% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $53,600
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $23,300
Median Loan Payment $253 $240

Diversity

University of South Alabama NDSU
% Men 32% 49%
% Women 68% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 86%
% Black 24% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

University of South Alabama NDSU
% In-State 73% 35%
% Out-of-State 25% 65%

Campus

University of South Alabama NDSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than NDSU based on total student enrollment (13,438 students vs. 12,242 students)

University of South Alabama vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or NDSU?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 8% more expensive to attend than University of South Alabama for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $8,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.4% higher at University of South Alabama than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($17,232.00 vs. $13,963.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than NDSU ($15,664 vs. $15,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 9.3% lower than costs at North Dakota State University Main Campus ($8,510 vs. $9,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama than North Dakota State University Main Campus (94% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Alabama students is 34.1% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($7,686 vs. $5,732)

University of South Alabama vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 46 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming NDSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at University of South Alabama (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at NDSU (3.53)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or NDSU? 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 NDSU and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than University of South Alabama (54% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $8,400 more per year than University of South Alabama graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $45,200)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($23,300 vs. $24,500)
  • NDSU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($240 vs. $253)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 45%)

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