Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Northern State University is a public regional university located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Northern State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Northern State University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $43,429 10 years after enrolling, 8th in South Dakota, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Northern State University bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average. Northern State University is ranked 6th in South Dakota.
Northern State University’s median net annual cost of $16,695 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Northern State University sorted by number of graduates - Education, Business Administration, Education (subject specific), Health & Fitness, Accounting, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,695
Average years to graduate
4.7
Biology
Rank: #35
Economic score: 2.62
Finance
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.36
Sociology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 8.78
Marketing
Rank: #400
Economic score: 30
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 33.27
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at Northern State University - Curriculum and Instruction, Student Counseling, Health & Fitness - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 51% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Northern State University is 2% higher than the state average, and 6% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Northern State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 14% of the measured graduating class, 21% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Northern State University graduates within 4.8 years.
Northern State University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Northern State University’s economic mobility score of 5.07 is calculated by adjusting the 4.77 economic score of lower-income students by the 14% pell grant recipients within the student body. Northern State University’s EMS of 5.07 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Northern State University pays $16,695 a year, $6,380 less than the $23,075 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,695
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Northern State University, 89% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,695 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 66% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,165. This is 12% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,850
Pell grants
$4,679
State grants
$1,265
Institutional grants
$3,747
Northern State University offers 8 online bachelor programs, all of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Northern State University offers 5 programs, 4 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
13
Hybrid programs
1
Percentage of programs online
27%
Northern State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 80% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,229 applicants, of which 981 were admitted and 337 enrolled. Northern State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
88%
83%
Female
61%
59%
First time
68%
59%
In-state
72%
68%
1st generation
31%
35%
White
81%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
2%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
8%
12%