IU Southeast vs. NSU

Deciding between Indiana University Southeast and Northern State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Southeast New Albany, IN
  • NSU Aberdeen, SD
  • Setting
  • IU Southeast Rural Fringe
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU Southeast 3,736
  • NSU 3,708
  • Type
  • IU Southeast Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU Southeast #831
  • NSU #921
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU Southeast -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • IU Southeast Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU Southeast
  • NSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU Southeast $8,424
  • NSU $8,845
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU Southeast $22,811
  • NSU $11,947
  • Room & Board
  • IU Southeast $11,940
  • NSU $10,600
  • Average Net Price
  • IU Southeast $9,102
  • NSU $15,990
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU Southeast $7,347
  • NSU $6,441
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU Southeast 84%
  • NSU 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU Southeast 2,040
  • NSU 1,086
  • Admitted
  • IU Southeast 1,723
  • NSU 1,010
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU Southeast 84.5%
  • NSU 93%
  • Enrolled
  • IU Southeast 39.7%
  • NSU 35.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU Southeast 1080
  • NSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU Southeast 22
  • NSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU Southeast 3.31
  • NSU 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU Southeast B+
  • NSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Southeast Easy
  • NSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU Southeast
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • IU Southeast 20/25
  • NSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • IU Southeast 970/1180
  • NSU 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Southeast Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU Southeast
  • NSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU Southeast 13:1
  • NSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU Southeast
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • NSU
    • Business (35%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU Southeast 27%
  • NSU 42%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU Southeast $38,300
  • NSU $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU Southeast 47%
  • NSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU Southeast $20,261
  • NSU $24,399
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU Southeast $209
  • NSU $252
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU Southeast 36%
  • NSU 38%
  • % Women
  • IU Southeast 64%
  • NSU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Southeast Very Low
  • NSU Low
  • HBCU
  • IU Southeast No
  • NSU No
  • % White
  • IU Southeast 85%
  • NSU 83%
  • % Asian
  • IU Southeast 1%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Black
  • IU Southeast 6%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU Southeast 4%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU Southeast 0%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU Southeast 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU Southeast 3%
  • NSU 2%
  • % International
  • IU Southeast 0%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU Southeast 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU Southeast 83%
  • NSU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU Southeast 16%
  • NSU 26%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IU Southeast Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IU Southeast No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • IU Southeast Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IU Southeast Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • IU Southeast Yes
  • NSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, IN with Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Southeast is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (3,736 students vs. 3,708 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Southeast is located in New Albany, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Northern State University is in Aberdeen, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • Indiana University Southeast is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Southeast 13:1; Northern State University 19:1.

IU Southeast vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Southeast 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 Indiana University Southeast than NSU ($9,102 vs. $15,990).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 11.2% lower than at Indiana University Southeast ($10,600 vs. $11,940).
  • Northern State University is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Southeast (about $421 more per year; $8,845.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.9% higher at IU Southeast than at Northern State University (about $10,864 more per year; $22,811.00 vs. $11,947.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern State University than at Indiana University Southeast (97% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Southeast students is 14.1% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($7,347 vs. $6,441).

IU Southeast vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU Southeast 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 IU Southeast.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Southeast (1080) is 10 points higher than at NSU (1070).
  • Incoming IU Southeast students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Southeast 970/1180; Northern State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Southeast 20/25; Northern State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU Southeast - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at IU Southeast (3.31).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than IU Southeast (84.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39.7% at IU Southeast vs. 35.2% at NSU.

IU Southeast vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU Southeast 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 Indiana University Southeast's (27%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Southeast earn a median of about $900 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Southeast graduates have a $4,138 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($20,261 vs. $24,399).
  • Among borrowers, IU Southeast graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($209 vs. $252).
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Southeast students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)

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.