What is the acceptance rate at Northern State University?

Northern State University's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Aberdeen, SD), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Northern State University?

Admitted students at Northern State University typically score 980–1160 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Northern State University cost?

At Northern State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,812 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Northern State University?

Northern State University enrolls approximately 1,273 undergraduate students.

Where is Northern State University located?

Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, SD.

Northern State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

← All schools

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SDpublicnorthern.edu

Acceptance

93%

SAT 25–75

980–1160

Avg net price

$15,812

Earnings (10 yr)

$47,618

Graduation rate

49%

Admit rate has ranged 78%–93% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, is a small public university where nearly everyone gets in (93% acceptance rate) but not everyone sticks around (52% graduation rate). Known for its tight-knit community and hands-on learning, NSU shines in education and business programs, offering a classic college experience with dorms, sports, and a surprisingly robust financial aid system that covers almost every new student.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 1,273
In-state tuition: $8,845
Out-of-state tuition: $11,947
Top Majors: Education, Business, Biology
Acceptance Rate: 81-93%
On-Campus Housing: 40%
Student-Faculty Ratio: 20:1
6-Year Graduation Rate: 52%
Financial Aid Recipients: 99% of needy students

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $47,618
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.0×
Median debt at graduation: $22,320
Graduation rate: 49%
First-year retention: 77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 65%
Pell (lower-income) share: 55%
First-generation share: 31%
Endowment / student: $44,107

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Accounting and Related Services$42,682
Finance and Financial Management Services$42,123
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,728
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$39,523
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$38,289
Biology, General

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.79

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 89
Summer high: 83°F
Winter low: 9°F
Annual rain: 23"
Annual snow: 38.2"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 42
Scholarly works: 2,066

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Northern State University?: Northern State University's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Aberdeen, SD), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Northern State University?: Admitted students at Northern State University typically score 980–1160 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Northern State University cost?: At Northern State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,812 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Northern State University?: Northern State University enrolls approximately 1,273 undergraduate students.
Where is Northern State University located?: Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, SD.

Admissions

Northern State University is about as close to open admissions as you can get without actually being open admissions. With an hovering between 81% and 93.2% across sources, the primary barrier to entry is showing up with a pulse and an ACT composite score of 18 (or SAT equivalent of 960). The average admitted student lands around a 21 ACT or 990 SAT—well below national averages. This is not a school that agonizes over rejection letters; it's built to serve South Dakota's college-going population with minimal barriers.

Acceptance Rate: Ranges from 81% to 93.17% across reporting sources
Typical Admitted Student: ACT 18-24, SAT 960-1100
No Application Drama: No essays or letters of recommendation required, just transcripts and test scores

prepscholar.com northern.edu thoughtco.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org acceptancerate.com