Northern State University: Statistics
Updated:
| Position | Category |
|---|---|
| #3700 of 14,131 | In the World |
| #1044 of 2,597 | In North America |
| #972 of 2,496 | In the United States |
| #7 of 15 | In South Dakota |
| #1 of 2 | In Aberdeen |
| #3687 of 4,645 | For Education Majors |
Quick Review
- Acceptance rate
- 93%
- Undergraduates
- 3,169
- Graduates
- 539
- Male:Female Ratio
- 38:62
- Control
- Public
- Highest Degree
- Master's degree
- Website
- northern.edu
Northern State University Acceptance rate and admissions statistics
Northern State University has an acceptance rate of 93% and is among the 33% of the easiest universities to gain admission to in the United States. The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students.
| Total | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 93% | 89% | 96% |
| Applicants | 1,086 | 446 | 640 |
| Admissions | 1,010 | 398 | 612 |
| Freshmen enrolled full time | 339 | 141 | 198 |
| Freshmen enrolled part time | 17 | 6 | 11 |
735 students enrolled in some distance education courses.
1,636 enrolled exclusively in distance education.
SAT scores
Among admitted applicants
7 or 2%
submitted SAT
25% of them
had 980
or below
75% of them
had 1160
or below
Typical SAT scores of first-years in Northern State University are 980-1160 (middle 50% range).
ACT scores
Among admitted applicants
264 or 74%
submitted ACT
25% of them
had 18
or below
75% of them
had 24
or below
Typical ACT scores of first-years in Northern State University are 18-24 (middle 50% range).
Admissions requirements
| College-preparatory program | Required |
|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | Required |
| Secondary school rank | Required |
| Secondary school record | Required |
| TOEFL | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered but not required |
| SAT/ACT | Considered but not required |
| Formal demonstration of competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
| Other Tests | Neither required nor recommended |
Enrollment demographics by race or ethnicity
| White | 3065 (84%) |
|---|---|
| Hispanic | 147 (4%) |
| Two or more races | 107 (3%) |
| Nonresident Alien | 106 (3%) |
| Race or Ethnicity unknown | 85 (2%) |
| Black or African American | 75 (2%) |
| Asian | 54 (1%) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 23 (0.6%) |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 5 (0.1%) |
Costs per year: Tuition, Housing, Fees
The final cost of attendance varies for each student based on household income, residency, program, and other factors.
- Average aid awarded
- $6,441
- Students receiving aid
- 98%
Tuition and fees
| Undergraduates | Graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition in-district | $7,616 | $5,999 |
| Tuition in-state | $7,616 | $5,999 |
| Tuition out-of-state | $10,718 | $11,199 |
| Fee in-district | $1,229 | $737 |
| Fee in-state | $1,229 | $737 |
| Fee out-of-state | $1,229 | $737 |
Room and board costs
| Dormitory capacity | 685 |
|---|---|
| Combined charge for room and board | $10,574 |
| Room charge | $6,002 |
| Meal charge | $4,572 |
Northern State University majors
Northern State University has granted 235 bachelor's degrees across 32 programs and 86 master's across 10 programs. Below is a table with majors that lead to degrees at Northern State University.
| Major | Associate | Bachelor | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 33 | ||
| Business Administration and Management, General | 4 | 25 | |
| Biology & Biological Sciences, General | 21 | ||
| Music Teacher Education | 6 | 15 | |
| General Studies | 14 | 4 | |
| Psychology, General | 18 | ||
| Curriculum and Instruction | 17 | ||
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 17 | ||
| Criminal Justice & Safety Studies | 4 | 12 | |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education & Fitness, General | 15 | ||
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 7 | 6 | |
| Sport and Fitness Administration & Management | 12 | ||
| Accounting | 10 | ||
| Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | 10 | ||
| Financial Mathematics | 10 | ||
| English Language and Literature, General | 8 | ||
| Marketing & Marketing Management, General | 8 | ||
| Special Education and Teaching, General | 5 | 3 | |
| Finance, General | 6 | ||
| Graphic Design | 2 | 4 | |
| History, General | 5 | ||
| Mental Health Counseling & Counselor | 5 | ||
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 5 | ||
| Sociology, General | 5 | ||
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 4 | ||
| Computer & Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other | 3 | ||
| Ecology | 3 | ||
| Educational & Instructional Technology | 3 | ||
| Political Science and Government, General | 3 | ||
| Rhetoric and Composition | 3 | ||
| Counselor Education & School Counseling and Guidance Services | 2 | ||
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 2 | ||
| Art & Art Studies, General | 1 | ||
| Biology Teacher Education | 1 | ||
| Biotechnology | 1 | ||
| Clinical Laboratory Science & Medical Technology & Technologist | 1 | ||
| English & Language Arts Teacher Education | 1 | ||
| Fine & Studio Arts, General | 1 | ||
| History Teacher Education | 1 | ||
| International Business & Trade & Commerce | 1 | ||
| Music, General | 1 | ||
| Grand Total | 27 | 235 | 86 |
Northern State University has a graduation rate of 49%, which is among the 39% lowest for universities in the US.
| Total | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% | 44% | 53% |
| |||
Publications & Citations
Northern State University has published 748 scientific papers with 7,337 citations received. The research profile covers a range of fields, including Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Biology, Political Science, Sociology, Law, Philosophy, Psychology, Medicine, and Computer Science.
Publication / Citation count by topic
Annual publication & citation counts
| Year | Publications | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 8 | 18 |
| 1994 | 9 | 21 |
| 1995 | 4 | 18 |
| 1996 | 5 | 35 |
| 1997 | 5 | 16 |
| 1998 | 6 | 19 |
| 1999 | 13 | 25 |
| 2000 | 13 | 49 |
| 2001 | 11 | 38 |
| 2002 | 15 | 64 |
| 2003 | 13 | 76 |
| 2004 | 7 | 61 |
| 2005 | 9 | 60 |
| 2006 | 21 | 79 |
| 2007 | 21 | 85 |
| 2008 | 24 | 113 |
| 2009 | 22 | 117 |
| 2010 | 34 | 150 |
| 2011 | 29 | 208 |
| 2012 | 27 | 199 |
| 2013 | 43 | 240 |
| 2014 | 24 | 327 |
| 2015 | 17 | 295 |
| 2016 | 25 | 274 |
| 2017 | 27 | 287 |
| 2018 | 26 | 313 |
| 2019 | 29 | 351 |
| 2020 | 25 | 532 |
| 2021 | 37 | 624 |
| 2022 | 36 | 648 |
| 2023 | 33 | 636 |
| 2024 | 24 | 610 |
| 2025 | 11 | 612 |
Northern State University alumni
-
Kristi Noem
- Enrolled in Northern State University
- Studied in 1990-1992
- Occupations
- husbandry workerbeauty pageant contestantwritercivil servantpolitician
- Biography
-
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is an American politician who is the 8th United States secretary of homeland security. A member of the Republican Party, she served as the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025 and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
-
Joe Robbie
- Occupations
- lawyerentrepreneurlobbyistpolitician
- Biography
-
Joseph Robbie was an American attorney, politician, and the principal founder of the Miami Dolphins.
-
Travis Lutter
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
-
Travis Lutter is a retired American mixed martial artist who won The Ultimate Fighter 4 reality show. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Machado.
-
Craig Smith
- Occupations
- basketball coach
- Biography
-
Craig Francis Smith is an American college basketball coach who was most recently the head coach for the Utah Utes men's team of the Big 12 Conference until 2025. He served as an assistant for Tim Miles at four schools – Mayville State, North Dakota State, Colorado State, and Nebraska. Smith was also the head coach at Mayville State from 2004 to 2007, at South Dakota from 2014 to 2018, and at Utah State from 2018 to 2021.
General info
| Alternative names | NSU |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Motto | Be You. Be Us. Be Northern. |
| Colors | maroon, gold |
| Academic calendar | August to May (August - December; January-May). Also two Summer terms (June-July) |
| Total FTE staff | 345 |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
Location and contacts
| Address | 1200 S Jay St Aberdeen, South Dakota, 57401-7198 United States |
|---|---|
| City population | 28,000 |
| Phone | 6056263011 |