NSU vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 3,708 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, SD (Remote Town setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern State University 19:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 50.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($10,600 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 317% higher at UC Merced than at Northern State University (about $37,876 more per year; $49,823 vs. $11,947).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern State University than at University of California Merced (97% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 323.7% larger than aid received by Northern State University students ($27,292 vs. $6,441).

Admissions details

• Incoming NSU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 21) as students at UC Merced (21).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at NSU, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at NSU (3.37).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.2% at NSU vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($19,899 vs. $24,399).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($205 vs. $252).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.