NSU vs. Tarleton

Should I go to Northern State University or Tarleton State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NSU or Tarleton 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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Northern State University vs. Tarleton State University comparison
Northern State University Tarleton State University College 3 College 4
Tarleton State University
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Overview

NSU Tarleton
Location Aberdeen, SD Stephenville, TX
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 3,344 14,092
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #820 #871
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northern.edu tarleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NSU Tarleton
Tuition (In State) $7,616 $4,416
Tuition (Out of State) $10,718 $14,208
Room & Board $9,150 $10,328
Avg Net Price $17,264 $13,755
Avg Grant Aid $5,715 $8,463
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 79%

Admission

NSU Tarleton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,322 5,788
Admitted 1,033 5,039
Acceptance Rate 78.1% 87.1%
Enrolled % 28.9% 48.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 800/1150 950/1150
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

NSU Tarleton
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Agriculture (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

NSU Tarleton
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,399 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $252 $204

Diversity

NSU Tarleton
% Men 37% 36%
% Women 63% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 68%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 18%
% Native American 3% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

NSU Tarleton
% In-State 69% 97%
% Out-of-State 30% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Tarleton State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (14,092 students vs. 3,344 students)

NSU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Tarleton?

  • Northern State University is 72.5% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $4,416.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.6% higher at Tarleton than Northern State University ($14,208.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than NSU ($13,755 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 12.9% lower than costs at Tarleton State University ($9,150 vs. $10,328)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than Tarleton State University (91% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tarleton State University students is 48.1% larger than aid received Northern State University ($8,463 vs. $5,715)

NSU vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 65 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Tarleton (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than NSU (78.1%)

NSU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NSU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and NSU.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Tarleton State University (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn on average $8,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Tarleton State University students graduate with a $4,649 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,399)
  • Tarleton graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($204 vs. $252)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 56%)

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