Chances of getting into Northern State University
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into NSU and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at NSU is 79%. It ranks #4 in South Dakota for lowest rate of acceptance. Northern State University is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 817 out of 1,038 applicants were admitted.
The school has easy admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 59 percent (SAT 990/1140 ACT 19/25). Northern State University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.37. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 42% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
The NSU application fee is $20 and applications are due by Jun 15.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Northern State University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 4% of students submitted SAT scores and 93% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
NSU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 480 |
| SAT Math 25th | 510 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 990 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 580 |
| SAT Math 75th | 560 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1140 |
| Average SAT Score | 1070
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Northern State University?
Northern State University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 62 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 990 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 910. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1070 out of 1600. NSU ranks #7 in South Dakota for highest average SAT composite score. 4 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
NSU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 17 |
| ACT Math 25th | 18 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 19 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 24 |
| ACT Math 75th | 25 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 25 |
| Average ACT Score | 22
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into NSU?
Admission data indicates that NSU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 19 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 56 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 16 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 22 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 25 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #5 in South Dakota for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 93 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Northern State University.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Explore Northern State University
NSU GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Northern State University?
Applicants require above average high school grades to get into NSU. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Northern State University was 3.37 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #6 in South Dakota for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.37 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as NSU accepts 79% of all applicants.
Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2021
Other Colleges to Consider
High School Class Rank
65% of Northern State University freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 14% |
| Top 25% of class | 34% |
| Top 50% of class | 65% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 609 | 429 | 1,038 |
| Accepted | 498 | 319 | 817 |
| Acceptance Rate | 82% | 74% | 79% |
| Enrolled | 210 | 131 | 341 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 42% | 41% | 42% |
Fall 2022 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 136 days left until the Fall 2022 term applications are due on Jun 15, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northern State University is $20.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northern State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Required |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered but not required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | Yes |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=219259 IPEDS survey data for Northern State University.
FAQs
Does Northern State University prefer SAT or ACT?
4% of students submit their SAT scores to NSU. 93% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Northern State University?
79% of those who apply are granted admission to NSU. Admission competition is and the college has easy admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Northern State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 990 and 1140. 4% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Northern State University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 19 and 25. 93% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.