Northern State University
- 4/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Aberdeen, SD
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0 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
3,708- Location Aberdeen, South Dakota
- Website northern.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Remote Town
- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
Northern State University occupies a 72-acre campus in Aberdeen, South Dakota, situated in the northeastern region of the state approximately 150 miles northeast of Pierre. The public university, established in 1901 as a normal school for teacher education, features a mix of historic and modern academic buildings set in a residential area. NSU maintains a focus on teacher education while offering undergraduate and graduate programs across business, arts and sciences, and fine arts, with education and business programs drawing the largest enrollment. The campus includes six residence halls for student housing, and the institution competes in NCAA Division II athletics as the Wolves, primarily in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Ratings
NSU is rated within the lower 32% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10.
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Overall Rating4 out of 10
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Academics3 out of 10
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Resources4 out of 10
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Outcomes4 out of 10
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Value1 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for Northern State University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- SAT (enrolled mid-50) 980/1160
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 18/24
- GPA 3.37
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due -
- Enrollment Rate 35.2%
- Application Fee $20
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
South Dakota Resident Tuition
$8,845Out of State Resident Tuition
$11,947Breakdown
- Tuition $8,845
- Books and Supplies $1,200
- Other Fees $1,229
- Room and Board $10,600
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,200
- Total One Year Cost $25,074
- Tuition $11,947
- Books and Supplies $1,200
- Other Fees $1,229
- Room and Board $10,600
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,200
- Total One Year Cost $28,176
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at Northern State University are Business, Education, and Social Sciences. 35% of students major in Business, 20% in Education, and 13% in Social Sciences.
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Business 35%
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Education 20%
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Social Sciences 13%
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Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies 6%
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Biology 4%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering Northern State University are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=219259.
GPA calculator: Northern State University GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026