Northern State University (NSU) vs. Dakota State University (Dakota State)

Compare two schools with tuition, admission, test scores, and more academic characteristics.

  • Both Northern State University (NSU) and Dakota State University (Dakota State) are public.
  • Both schools are located in South Dakota.
  • Dakota State has more expensive tuition of $12,735 than NSU ($11,947).
  • Dakota State has tighter acceptance rate of 84.36% than NSU (87.83%).
  • Dakota State has higher SAT scores of 1,080 than NSU (990).
  • NSU is larger with 3,344 students than Dakota State (3,241 students).
Northern State University

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Dakota State University

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#5 in South Dakota
Rankings#1 in South Dakota
Public, 4-yearsSchool TypePublic, 4-years
Aberdeen, SDLocationMadison, SD
NSUKnown asDakota State
1 Year Certificate
Associate
Bachelor's
Post-Bachelor Certificate
Master's
Offered Degrees1 Year Certificate
2 Year Certificate
Associate
Bachelor's
Post-Bachelor Certificate
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Master's College and University (smaller programs)Carnegie ClassificationMaster's College and University (medium programs)
Tuition & Fees
$8,845 South Dakota residents
$11,947 out-of-state
Undergraduate$9,633 South Dakota residents
$12,735 out-of-state
$6,736 South Dakota residents
$11,936 out-of-state
Graduate$6,731 South Dakota residents
$11,931 out-of-state
$6,261Financial Aid$5,725
Admission
$20 undergraduate
$35 graduate
Application Fee$20 undergraduate
$35 graduate
87.83%Acceptance Rate84.36%
37.11%Yield46.46%
990 SAT, 21 ACTTest Scores1,080 SAT, 23 ACT
Student Population
3,344Total Students3,241
2,851Undergraduate2,757
493Graduate484
1,475Online Enrollment1,773
Graduation Rate & Outcomes
50%Graduation Rate48%
25%Transfer-out Rate
74%Retention Rate74%
$37,300Average Earning after Graduation$43,100
Special Learning Opportunities and Student Services
Online Degree/Certificate Program Offered for Both Undergraduate and GraduateDistance Learning (Online Classes)Online Degree/Certificate Program Offered for Both Undergraduate and Graduate
Study Abroad
Teacher Certifiate
Special OpportunitiesROTC
Study Abroad
Teacher Certifiate
✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 851)
$4,900 average annual costs
On-Campus Living✔ (Dormitory Capacity: 934)
$4,322 average annual costs
Not offered or not ReportedMeal PlanNot offered or not Reported
Faculties and Staffs
16 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio18 to 1
89 Full-time
42 Part-time
Number of Faculties103 Full-time
31 Part-time
325 Full-time
54 Part-time
Number of Staffs311 Full-time
54 Part-time
$67,517 for Faculties
$52,378 Part-time
Average Salary$77,017 for Faculties
$60,686 Part-time
All data used in our site is from IPEDS (The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), U.S. Department of Education, academic year 2022-2023