Lehman vs. NSU

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Lehman College in Bronx, NY with Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Lehman College is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,324 students vs. 3,708 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Lehman College is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); Northern State University is in Aberdeen, SD (Remote Town setting).
• CUNY Lehman College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Lehman College 15:1; Northern State University 19:1.

Lehman vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehman or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Lehman College than NSU ($3,961 vs. $15,990).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 52.4% lower than at CUNY Lehman College ($10,600 vs. $22,260).
• Northern State University is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehman (about $1,435 more per year; $8,845.00 vs. $7,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Lehman than at Northern State University (about $3,413 more per year; $15,360.00 vs. $11,947.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern State University than at CUNY Lehman College (97% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY Lehman College students is 57.6% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($10,151 vs. $6,441).

Lehman vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehman or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and Lehman.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northern State University (1070) is 70 points higher than at Lehman (1000).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Lehman College 850/1150; Northern State University 980/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthern State University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehman - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Lehman (3.2).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than Lehman (56.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at Lehman vs. 35.2% at NSU.

Lehman vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehman and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Northern State University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than CUNY Lehman College's (40%).
• Graduates from CUNY Lehman College earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,400 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Lehman College graduates have a $14,199 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($10,200 vs. $24,399).
• Among borrowers, Lehman graduates have an estimated $147 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($105 vs. $252).
• More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lehman students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.