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Northern State University
Admission at Northern State University is close to open (93%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $47,618 median earnings below before the application.
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Northern State University anchors the college town of Aberdeen, SD, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Biology, General, where graduates median $70,545 four years out. 12.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,273 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 77% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Northern State University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Northern State University received 1,082 applications and admitted 1,004 (92.8%), with 319 enrolling.
Northern State University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Northern State University's submitters' middle half scored 18–24 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Northern State University compares
| Northern State University | South Dakota median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 93% | 84.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,845 | $10,077 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,618 | $51,926 | $53,781 |
At $47,618, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($51,926). Look at Northern State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,845 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $11,947. For non-residents, Northern State University's $11,947 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Enrollment sits at 1,273 — Northern State University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
48.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 51% don't — ask a Northern State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Northern State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | $70,545 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $67,072 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,571 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,484 |
| Sociology | $50,765 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,324 |
| Psychology, General | $45,921 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,147 |
Median earnings for these 8 Northern State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,618 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 25 additional Northern State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Northern State University?
The middle 50% of Northern State University's submitters earned ACT composites of 18–24; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Northern State University's acceptance rate?
92.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,004 admitted from 1,082 applicants.
How much does Northern State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,845; out-of-state students pay $11,947. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Northern State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,618 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in South Dakota
- South Dakota State University — 98.3% admitted
- Dakota State University — 88% admitted
- University of South Dakota — 98.8% admitted
- Black Hills State University — 96.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.