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College

Northern State University

#4 in Top Public Universities in South Dakota
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • Aberdeen, SD
  • 264 reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    B-
  2. Value
    B
  3. Diversity
    B+
  4. Campus
    B
  5. Athletics
    B+
  6. Party Scene
    B-
  7. Professors
    B
  8. Location
    B-
  9. Dorms
    B
  10. Campus Food
    B-
  11. Student Life
    B
  12. Safety
    A-
View Full Report Card
Northern State is an above-average public university located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,402 undergraduate students. The Northern State acceptance rate is 81%. Popular majors include Business Administration and Management, Elementary Education, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. Graduating 46% of students, Northern State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $31,500.
About Northern State University...
Athletic Division
NCAA Division II (with football)
Athletic Conference
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Address
1200 S Jay St
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Website
northern.edu

Northern State University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
81%
Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
SAT Range
870-1050
ACT Range
17-24
Application Fee
$20
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
—
Improve Your SAT/ACT Scores with Test Prep

Cost

Net Price
$14,341/ year
National
$15,523
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $12,175/ year
  • $30-48k
    $12,202/ year
  • $49-75k
    $15,020/ year
  • $76-110k
    $16,681/ year
  • $110k+
    $16,626/ year
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Academics

Professors
B
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
20:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
90%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.10 responses
92%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.12 responses
83%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.12 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management
    56 Graduates
  • Elementary Education
    35 Graduates
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities
    29 Graduates
  • Biology
    21 Graduates
  • Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
    21 Graduates
  • Psychology
    21 Graduates
  • Accounting
    20 Graduates
  • Sociology
    17 Graduates
  • Music Teacher Education
    16 Graduates
  • Arts
    14 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
1,402Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
9%
Pell Grant
39%
Varsity Athletes
25%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 11 responses
Report
  • Small Town
    82%
  • Different
    9%
  • Out of this world
    9%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
—
Poll
89%
of students say they don't have Greek life.18 responses
Poll
68%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.25 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 9 responses
Report
  • Friendly
    78%
  • Easy Going
    22%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$34,100/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
46%
National
49%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
94%
National
83%
88%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.8 responses
Colleges like Northern State University
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Northern State University Reviews

264 reviews
All Categories
Northern State University is above and beyond what I expected. The professors take the time to get to know your interests and goals and give advice on how to achieve your goals. The campus is safe and very nice. Northern State University has that "personal touch." The food is very good and there are plenty of activities to take part in. Being a member of the track and field team has been a positive experience, as well. I like seeing that Northern State University welcomes all races/nationalities. I would recommend Northern State University to anyone who wants to attend a quality institution!
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I personally loved Northern State University. If you are looking for a smaller school, but still want to have all the things a big school does then Northern is your best option. I will be playing on their DII women's soccer team and their training and game facilities are very nice. The coaches are just as amazing. The professors are willing to work with you and the science profs love to do research!
Northern State has a very diverse campus. There are many students from other countries, and Northern is always great about welcoming them to the states! The academic advisors that you work with are absolutely great!