Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota · Public · 1,273 undergraduates · northern.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
93%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
980 to 1160
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$26,990Est.Estimate
$29,420 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Northern State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
93% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$29,420
a year in 2027-28, from a $29,420 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1070
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1070).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- Some admission options require ACCUPLACER placement testing
Source: Undergraduate Admissions Requirements | Northern State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
93%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 980 to 1160
Reading and Writing 490 to 590
Math 490 to 570
ACT composite 18 to 24
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$26,990
a year, in state
$29,420
a year, out of state (tuition $12,800)
- Tuition (in state)$10,370
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$13,929
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,740
- $48,001 to $75,000$13,310
- $75,001 to $110,000$16,293
- Over $110,000$17,316
Financial aidEstimate
77%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
97%
of freshmen receive grants
$6,441
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
South Dakota programs for residents
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
$1,500 to $3,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Option 1 (ACT 24 + curriculum/GPA); Advanced Honors Endorsement with 3.0 unweighted GPA, OR required HS courses (SDCL 13-55-31.1) with no final grade below C and cumulative 3.0 GPA
- 1310+ SAT or 28+ ACT, Option 2 (ACT 28, no curriculum/GPA requirement); None beyond test (no curriculum or GPA requirement per BOR)
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 39
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,040Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 121 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 123 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ARTH 211 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 151/151L |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIOL 151/151L & 153/153L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 123 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 123 & 125 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 112/112L |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHEM 112/112L & 114/114L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | CHIN 100TG |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 141 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CSC 155/L USD |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSC 100T |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 111 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 210 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 100T |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 122 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN 202 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 202 & 392 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GER 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GER 202 & 392 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 200 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | MFL 100TG |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | MFL 100TG |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | LATI 101 and 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 11 | LATI 101, 102, and 201 |
| Latin | 5 | 14 | LATI 101, 102, 201, and 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Music Theory | 5 | 4 | MUS 110 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 111/L |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 113/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 | PHYS 209 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 3 | PHYS 207 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 5 | MATH 115 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 101 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | IDL 100T |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | IDL 100T |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 202 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 202 & 392 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 202 & 392 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 281 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 100 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 151 |
| United States History | 5 | 6 | HIST 151 & 152 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 112 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
52%
Come back for a second year
77%
Typical earnings
$51,006
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Northern State University$59,164
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 8 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Northern State University. The Northern State University logo is a trademark of the college.