NDSU vs. NSU

Should I go to North Dakota State University Main Campus or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NDSU or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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North Dakota State University Main Campus vs. Northern State University comparison
North Dakota State University Main Campus Northern State University College 3 College 4
North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

NDSU NSU
Location Fargo, ND Aberdeen, SD
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 12,242 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #568 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ndsu.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NDSU NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,309 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $13,963 $10,718
Room & Board $9,300 $9,150
Avg Net Price $15,962 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $5,732 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 91%

Admission

NDSU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,535 1,322
Admitted 8,166 1,033
Acceptance Rate 95.7% 78.1%
Enrolled % 30.8% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 968/1216 800/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

NDSU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

NDSU NSU
Graduation Rate 54% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,600 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,300 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $240 $252

Diversity

NDSU NSU
% Men 49% 37%
% Women 51% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 83%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

NDSU NSU
% In-State 35% 69%
% Out-of-State 65% 30%

Campus

NDSU NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 3,344 students)

NDSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NDSU or NSU?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 22.2% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at NDSU than Northern State University ($13,963.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than NSU ($15,962 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 1.6% lower than costs at North Dakota State University Main Campus ($9,150 vs. $9,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than North Dakota State University Main Campus (91% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Dakota State University Main Campus students is 0.3% larger than aid received Northern State University ($5,732 vs. $5,715)

NDSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NDSU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or NDSU .

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 67 points higher than at NSU (1024)
  • Incoming NDSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than NSU (78.1%)

NDSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NDSU or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and NDSU.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than Northern State University (54% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $16,200 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $37,400)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,099 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($23,300 vs. $24,399)
  • NDSU graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($240 vs. $252)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/