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Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota · Public · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$15,812What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
51%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,273
In-state tuition
$8,845Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$11,947
SAT midpoint
1,105
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$47,618Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$15,812

Better than 40% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

51%

Better than 45% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$47,618

Better than 26% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$22,320

Better than 34% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$22,077

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$15,812

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Northern State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time51%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return77%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$22,320
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$47,618

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Northern State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Accounting and Related Services$51,23920
Finance and Financial Management Services$47,7817
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$46,04235
Marketing$45,8917
Business Administration, Management and Operations$43,66726
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$40,12330
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported28
Biology, GeneralNot reported18
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported15
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported14
Psychology, GeneralNot reported14
SociologyNot reported13
Special Education and TeachingNot reported12
HistoryNot reported11
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported8
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported6
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported6
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported6
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported5
MusicNot reported5
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported4
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported4
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported3
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementNot reported3
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported3
ChemistryNot reported3
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
MathematicsNot reported2
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
EconomicsNot reportedNot reported
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
International/Globalization StudiesNot reportedNot reported
International BusinessNot reportedNot reported

All 33 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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