Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD · MidwestQuad's selectivityOpen

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Northern State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (93%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 16% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

93%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

1,086

Admitted

1,010

Yield

35%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

980–1160

8001600

ACT middle 50%

18–24

1236

Applications −21% since fall 2014 · admit rate 83% → 93%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,273 undergrads, where 12% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.3K

undergrads · larger than 44% of colleges

Diversity index

0.37

Pell Grant

12%

below the median

First generation

31%

below the median

Remote townNCAA D-II · Northern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.28 → 0.37 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Elementary Education and Teaching (10% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 95% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,584 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $17,457 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $6.8K less than the national median. The 97% who received grants paid $15,990 on average; the other 3% paid the full sticker price of $23,345 in-state / $26,447 out-of-state.

26%

$17.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $6.8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $23,345 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 26% of full price

Federal loans

22%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −18% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $47,618 ten years after enrolling, more than at 32% of colleges; 50% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

50%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$47.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.3K

≈ $237/month for 10 years

Retention

77%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 44% → 49% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 8% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 18%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 21% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 83% to 93%.

Cost
Falling
−18% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−21%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 83% → 93%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.28 → 0.37

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

95% admit · 1.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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University of Northwestern-St Paul

93% admit · SAT 1070 · 1.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

691 undergrads

Also MidwestAlso public

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Valley City State University

99% admit · SAT 950 · 958 undergrads

Also MidwestAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Northern State University (2026)
Northern State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 219259 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything