About
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a public university in Aberdeen, SD, known for its public masters university, education and business focus, and test optional. With an acceptance rate of 78%, NSU is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 299 students each year. NSU is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 800–1150, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. NSU offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $4,932 per year; the sticker price of $26,597 may look very different from what your family actually pays.
Admissions
Northern State University acceptance rate and admitted student profile
accessible for most qualified applicants
Application Strategy
Strategy tips for applying to Northern State University
Financial Aid & Cost
What Northern State University actually costs your family
Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.
| Family Income | Sticker Price | Avg. Net Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | ~$27k/yr | $10.8k |
| 30k-48k | ~$27k/yr | $12.1k |
| 48k-75k | ~$27k/yr | $15.3k |
| 75k-110k | ~$27k/yr | $18.4k |
| 110k+ | ~$27k/yr | $17.9k |
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Outcomes & Campus
Student outcomes and campus profile
Student Body
Student body composition
Race & Ethnicity