St. Cloud State University vs. NDSU

Should I go to Saint Cloud State University or North Dakota State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if St. Cloud State University or NDSU 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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Saint Cloud State University vs. North Dakota State University Main Campus comparison
Saint Cloud State University North Dakota State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Saint Cloud State University North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

St. Cloud State University NDSU
Location Saint Cloud, MN Fargo, ND
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 10,420 12,242
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #568
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu ndsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St. Cloud State University NDSU
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $9,309
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $13,963
Room & Board $9,950 $9,300
Avg Net Price $14,065 $15,962
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $5,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 77%

Admission

St. Cloud State University NDSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 8,535
Admitted 4,583 8,166
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 95.7%
Enrolled % 16.8% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 1027/1200 968/1216
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 15, 2024 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

St. Cloud State University NDSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

St. Cloud State University NDSU
Graduation Rate 48% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $53,600
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $23,300
Median Loan Payment $232 $240

Diversity

St. Cloud State University NDSU
% Men 43% 49%
% Women 57% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 86%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

St. Cloud State University NDSU
% In-State 75% 35%
% Out-of-State 11% 65%

Campus

St. Cloud State University NDSU
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 St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 10,420 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or NDSU?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 5.7% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.9% higher at St. Cloud State University than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($18,695.00 vs. $13,963.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than NDSU ($14,065 vs. $15,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 7% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($9,300 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than North Dakota State University Main Campus (98% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 5.4% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($6,042 vs. $5,732)

St. Cloud State University vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 61 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming NDSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than St. Cloud State University (95.3%)

St. Cloud State University vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University or NDSU? 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 NDSU and St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than Saint Cloud State University (54% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $6,900 more per year than St. Cloud State University graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $46,700)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $800 lower median federal student loan debt than NDSU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,300)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than NDSU graduates. ($232 vs. $240)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 67%)

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