Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · Public · Graduate degree-granting
A public institution in Aberdeen, South Dakota, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Northern State University serves students across multiple degree programs. With 1,273 students, it is a small institution. Graduates earn a median of $47,618 ten years after enrollment, which is 17% above the national median of $40,747. The graduation rate is 50.5%. On the financial side, median graduate debt is $22,320, yielding an earnings-to-debt ratio of 2.13x. The average net price after financial aid is $15,812 per year. The most popular programs include Curriculum & Instruction, Teacher Education, Sports & Fitness, Secondary Education, and Business Administration & Management.
Key Outcomes
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,618
Graduation Rate
50.5%
Median Debt
$22,320
Average Net Price
$15,812
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
0.75x
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio
2.13x
Admissions & Enrollment
Total Enrollment
1,273
Admission Rate
93.0%
Average SAT
1089
Retention Rate
77.0%
Cost
In-State Tuition
$8,845
Out-of-State Tuition
$11,947
Pell Grant Rate
12.4%
Federal Loan Rate
22.1%
Net Cost by Family Income
Income $0–$30K
$10,762
Income $30K–$48K
$12,087
Income $48K–$75K
$15,293
Income $110K+
$17,933
Student Demographics
Women
60.5%
White
78.7%
Black
3.5%
Hispanic
5.5%
Asian
2.0%
Two or More Races
4.6%
Student Loan Performance
Repayment Rate (3yr)
64.7%
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission — Institutional Accreditation (Accredited)
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation — Art and Design (ART) - Degree-granting schools and departments and non-degree-granting programs (Accredited)
- National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation — Music (MUS) (Accredited)
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education — Teacher Education (TED) - Baccalaureate and graduate programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary and secondary schools (Accredited)
Programs (51)
Bachelor (27)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $44,147 | 35 |
| Sports & Fitness | $53,484 | 30 |
| Secondary Education | Not reported | 28 |
| Business Administration & Management | $56,571 | 26 |
| Accounting | $67,072 | 20 |
| Biology | $70,545 | 18 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | Not reported | 15 |
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | Not reported | 14 |
| Psychology | $45,921 | 14 |
| Sociology | $50,765 | 13 |
| Special Education | Not reported | 12 |
| History | Not reported | 11 |
| English Language & Literature | Not reported | 8 |
| Finance | $48,324 | 7 |
| Marketing | Not reported | 7 |
| Rhetoric & Composition | Not reported | 6 |
| Design & Applied Arts | Not reported | 6 |
| Fine Arts | Not reported | 6 |
| Political Science | Not reported | 5 |
| Music | Not reported | 5 |
| Ecology | Not reported | 4 |
| Clinical Laboratory Science | Not reported | 4 |
| Computer & Information Systems Security | Not reported | 3 |
| Romance Languages | Not reported | 3 |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Not reported | 3 |
| Chemistry | Not reported | 3 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | Not reported | 3 |
Master (8)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum & Instruction | $49,669 | 46 |
| Secondary Education | Not reported | 24 |
| Educational Administration | Not reported | 11 |
| Sports & Fitness | Not reported | 8 |
| Applied Mathematics | Not reported | 6 |
| Mental Health Services | Not reported | 6 |
| Finance | Not reported | 6 |
| Special Education | Not reported | 4 |
Associate (4)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | Not reported | 11 |
| Biotechnology | Not reported | 8 |
| Business Administration & Management | Not reported | 7 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | Not reported | 3 |
Undergraduate Certificate (1)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Not reported | 9 |
Show 11 additional programs with limited data
| Program | Level | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Area Studies | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Area Studies | Graduate Certificate | 2 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Master | 2 |
| Mathematics | Bachelor | 2 |
| East Asian Languages | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Germanic Languages | Bachelor | 1 |
| Biotechnology | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Mathematics | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Arts & Entertainment Management | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| History | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
Rankings Featuring This Institution
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Business Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Psychology Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Biology Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Education Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Master's Education Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Social Sciences Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Bachelor's Parks & Recreation Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Colleges in South Dakota
- Lowest Debt Colleges in South Dakota
- Highest Graduation Rate Colleges in South Dakota
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