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Northern State University

#8 in Best Value Colleges in South Dakota
  • 4 Year
  • Aberdeen, SD
  • 276 reviews
    How to Apply
    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
      A-
    10. Campus Food
      C+
    11. Student Life
      B+
    12. Safety
      B+
    View Full Report Card
    Northern State is a public university located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,346 undergraduate students. The Northern State acceptance rate is 88%. Popular majors include Business, Elementary Education, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. Graduating 45% of students, Northern State alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $32,100.
    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
    88%
    Application Deadline
    Rolling Admissions
    SAT Range
    950-1140
    ACT Range
    19-24
    Application Fee
    $20
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    —

    Test Prep

    SAT and ACT Prep Options
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    Cost

    Net Price
    $14,489/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $5,074/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    96%

    Academics

    Professors
    B-
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    19:1
    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.13 responses
    85%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.13 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Business
      56 Graduates
    • Elementary Education
      35 Graduates
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      29 Graduates
    • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
      22 Graduates
    • Biology
      21 Graduates
    • Psychology
      21 Graduates
    • Accounting
      20 Graduates
    • Sociology
      17 Graduates
    • Music Teacher Education
      16 Graduates
    • Arts
      14 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    1,346Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    1,816
    Undergrads Over 25
    9%
    Pell Grant
    36%
    Varsity Athletes
    29%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 12 responses
    Report
    • Small Town
      83%
    • Different
      8%
    • Out of this world
      8%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    —
    Poll
    89%
    of students say they don't have Greek life.19 responses
    Poll
    69%
    of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.26 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 10 responses
    Report
    • Friendly
      70%
    • Easy Going
      20%
    • Underrated
      10%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $35,300/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    45%
    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

    276 reviews
    All Categories
    I went to Northern as a music major and absolutely loved it! The faculty in the music department is absolutely phenomenal. Not only that, but the entire campus is very supportive of the arts, which is hard to find at a school in the Midwest where sports tend to dominate. When they say you’re not just a number, they mean it. Even the general education professors know their students by name, even if they’ve only had them in one or two classes. Highly recommend to anyone that’s looking for a great education at a very affordable, smaller university.
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    There would be absolutely nothing I would change at Northern State University. The professors and peers that attend Northern are some of the nicest people ever. The professors make sure they make time for you even outside of their office hours which is really nice with my work schedule. The facility's and clubs at Northern are the best I have seen from any other college. I highly recommended Northern!
    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!