Northern State University: Statistics
Updated:
| Position | Category |
|---|---|
| #3949 of 14,131 | In the World |
| #1105 of 2,597 | In North America |
| #1033 of 2,496 | In the United States |
| #7 of 15 | In South Dakota |
| #1 of 2 | In Aberdeen |
| #3663 of 4,586 | For Education Majors |
Quick Review
- Acceptance rate
- 93%
- Undergraduates
- 2,932
- Graduates
- 589
- Male:Female Ratio
- 37:63
- 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% | 92% | 93% |
| Applicants | 1,082 | 444 | 638 |
| Admissions | 1,004 | 408 | 596 |
| Freshmen enrolled full time | 305 | 128 | 177 |
| Freshmen enrolled part time | 14 | 6 | 8 |
707 students enrolled in some distance education courses.
1,609 enrolled exclusively in distance education.
SAT scores
Among admitted applicants
2 or 1%
submitted SAT
ACT scores
Among admitted applicants
260 or 82%
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 | 3008 (86%) |
|---|---|
| Hispanic | 135 (4%) |
| Two or more races | 85 (2%) |
| Black or African American | 79 (2%) |
| Nonresident Alien | 66 (2%) |
| Asian | 52 (1%) |
| Race or Ethnicity unknown | 46 (1%) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 23 (0.7%) |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 2 (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
- $5,565
- 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 | 773 |
|---|---|
| Combined charge for room and board | $9,632 |
| Room charge | $5,118 |
| Meal charge | $4,514 |
Northern State University majors
Northern State University has granted 285 bachelor's degrees across 38 programs and 113 master's across 9 programs. Below is a table with majors that lead to degrees at Northern State University.
| Major | Associate | Bachelor | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum and Instruction | 46 | ||
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 35 | ||
| Business Administration and Management, General | 7 | 26 | |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education & Fitness, General | 21 | 8 | |
| Music Teacher Education | 4 | 24 | |
| General Studies | 11 | 14 | |
| Accounting | 19 | ||
| Biology & Biological Sciences, General | 17 | ||
| Psychology, General | 14 | ||
| Criminal Justice & Safety Studies | 3 | 9 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision, Other | 11 | ||
| Sociology, General | 11 | ||
| History, General | 9 | ||
| Sport and Fitness Administration & Management | 9 | ||
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 2 | 6 | |
| Biotechnology | 8 | ||
| English Language and Literature, General | 8 | ||
| History Teacher Education | 8 | ||
| Special Education and Teaching, General | 4 | 4 | |
| Marketing & Marketing Management, General | 7 | ||
| English & Language Arts Teacher Education | 6 | ||
| Financial Mathematics | 6 | ||
| Graphic Design | 6 | ||
| Mental Health Counseling & Counselor | 6 | ||
| Rhetoric and Composition | 6 | ||
| Finance, General | 5 | ||
| Music, General | 5 | ||
| Clinical Laboratory Science & Medical Technology & Technologist | 4 | ||
| Fine & Studio Arts, General | 4 | ||
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 4 | ||
| Drama and Dramatics & Theatre Arts, General | 3 | ||
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 3 | ||
| Political Science and Government, General | 3 | ||
| Spanish Language and Literature | 3 | ||
| Art & Art Studies, General | 2 | ||
| Biochemistry | 2 | ||
| Biology Teacher Education | 2 | ||
| Chemistry, General | 2 | ||
| Computer & Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other | 2 | ||
| Counselor Education & School Counseling and Guidance Services | 2 | ||
| Ecology | 2 | ||
| Mathematics, General | 2 | ||
| Art Teacher Education | 1 | ||
| German Language and Literature | 1 | ||
| Grand Total | 29 | 285 | 113 |
Northern State University has a graduation rate of 52%, which is among the 46% lowest for universities in the US.
| Total | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% | 46% | 58% |
| |||
Publications & Citations
Northern State University has published 725 scientific papers with 6,843 citations received. The research profile covers a range of fields, including Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Biology, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Psychology.
Publication / Citation count by topic
Annual publication & citation counts
| Year | Publications | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6 | 13 |
| 1993 | 8 | 18 |
| 1994 | 9 | 21 |
| 1995 | 4 | 18 |
| 1996 | 5 | 34 |
| 1997 | 5 | 16 |
| 1998 | 6 | 19 |
| 1999 | 13 | 25 |
| 2000 | 13 | 49 |
| 2001 | 11 | 39 |
| 2002 | 15 | 63 |
| 2003 | 13 | 76 |
| 2004 | 7 | 61 |
| 2005 | 9 | 60 |
| 2006 | 21 | 79 |
| 2007 | 20 | 85 |
| 2008 | 24 | 113 |
| 2009 | 22 | 117 |
| 2010 | 34 | 150 |
| 2011 | 29 | 208 |
| 2012 | 27 | 199 |
| 2013 | 43 | 240 |
| 2014 | 24 | 326 |
| 2015 | 17 | 296 |
| 2016 | 25 | 274 |
| 2017 | 27 | 287 |
| 2018 | 26 | 313 |
| 2019 | 29 | 351 |
| 2020 | 23 | 534 |
| 2021 | 33 | 624 |
| 2022 | 34 | 646 |
| 2023 | 29 | 636 |
| 2024 | 23 | 604 |
Northern State University alumni
-
Kristi Noem
- Enrolled in Northern State University
- Studied in 1990-1992
- Occupations
- politicianfarmerrancherbeauty pageant contestantwriter
- Biography
-
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is an American politician serving since 2025 as the eighth United States secretary of homeland security.
-
Joe Robbie
- Occupations
- lobbyistpoliticianlawyerentrepreneur
- 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 is the head coach for the Utah Utes men's team of the Big 12 Conference. 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 | 342 |
| 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 |