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Aberdeen, SD · Vermillion, SD
| Northern State University | University of South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,812/yr | $19,858/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $10,762/yr | $14,921/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,320 | $23,592 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,087/yr | $15,942/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,293/yr | $18,540/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,372/yr | $21,202/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $17,933/yr | $22,193/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $237/mo | $250/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,600/yr | $10,356/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,600/yr | $10,870/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,200/yr | $4,948/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $22,077/yr | $24,422/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,845/yr | $9,432/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $11,947/yr | $12,942/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 12% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 22% | 40% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 93% | 99% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 980–1160 | 1125–1315 |
| SAT average | 1089 | 1125 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–24 | 19–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–23 · Math 17–25 | English 17–25 · Math 18–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,082 | 5,349 |
| Students accepted | 1,004 | 5,293 |
| Students who enrolled | 319 | 1,359 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 32% | 26% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 2% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 82% | 73% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 49% | 60% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,618/yr | $51,926/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,556–$63,985 | $37,336–$70,894 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 52% | 53% |
| White students graduating | 56% | 63% |
| Black students graduating | 11% | 38% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 20% | 41% |
| Asian students graduating | 33% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $41,536/yr | $46,290/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 67% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 35% | 47% |
| Pell students who graduate | 37% | 48% |
| First-gen students who finish | 30% | 41% |
| Low-income students who finish | 25% | 34% |
| Students who transfer out | 27% | 25% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,830/yr | $51,509/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Education 21% · Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 18% | Health Professions 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Education 9% |
| Most popular program | Education — 21% of degrees | Health Professions — 27% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 18% of degrees | Education — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Accounting and Related Services — $51,239/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $120,429/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 22% | 11% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,273 | 5,439 |
| Students per professor | 19 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 539 | 3,000 |
| Average professor pay | $8,949/mo | $9,264/mo |
| Full-time professors | 95% | 65% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $52,170 | $64,844 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Aberdeen, SD | Vermillion, SD |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1901 | 1862 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.3% | 6.9% |
| Men | 43% | 36% |
| Women | 57% | 64% |
| White students | 79% | 76% |
| Black students | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.5% | 5.8% |
| Asian students | 2% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 4.6% | 2.6% |
| Other / not reported | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 31% | 24% |
| Part-time students | 18% | 12% |
| Students age 25+ | 7% | 7.2% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,584/yr | $11,862/yr |
| Endowment | $56.1M | $317.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 773 | 2,128 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,118/yr | $4,658/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,514/yr | $4,402/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 11 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 409 | 450 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.0M | $5.7M |
| Athletics budget | $8.7M | $23.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $9.0M | $23.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $71,940 | $479,666 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.