Resources › For Students and Parents Northern State University Admissions ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid & More Share Flipboard Email Print Northern students in Washington, DC, for Obama's second inauguration. worldstreetphotos.com / Flickr For Students and Parents College Admissions College Profiles College Admissions Process College Rankings Choosing A College Application Tips Essay Samples & Tips Testing Graphs College Financial Aid Extracurricular Activities Advanced Placement Homework Help Private School Test Prep College Life Graduate School Business School Law School Distance Learning View More by Allen Grove Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Updated October 25, 2017 Northern State University Admissions Overview: With an acceptance rate of 81%, Northern State University is not highly selective, and students with solid grades and test scores have a good chance of being admitted. To apply, interested students will need to submit an application, official high school transcripts, and scores from either the SAT or ACT. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact the admissions office. Admissions Data (2016): Northern State University Acceptance Rate: 81%Test Scores -- 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 420 / 510SAT Math: 450 / 540SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 17 / 24ACT English: 15 / 24ACT Math: 17 / 24What these ACT numbers mean Northern State University Description: Founded in 1901, Northern State University is a four-year, public university located in Aberdeen, a growing city of about 27,000 people in northeastern South Dakota. The university offers 41 undergraduate bachelor's degree programs, nine master’s degree programs, eight associate degree programs, and eight certificates through the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Fine Arts, and Graduate Studies. The university also has a broad offering of online courses.Northern's 3,500 students are supported by an 18 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Students are active outside of the classroom, and Northern is home to numerous intramural sports and over 70 student clubs and organizations including Chess Club, Speech and Debate Club, and the Northern Rodeo Club. On the intercollegiate front, the Northern State Wolves compete in the NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), with eight men’s sports and ten women’s sports. Northern’s homecoming parade, or Gypsy Day parade, is the largest parade in South Dakota. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 3,587 (3,075 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 43% Male / 57% Female46% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $7,887 (in-state); $10,800 (out-of-state)Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $7,520Other Expenses: $4,000Total Cost: $20,607 (in-state); $23,520 (out-of-state) Northern State University Financial Aid (2015 - 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 96%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 85%Loans: 68%Average Amount of AidGrants: $4,620Loans: $6,509 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Elementary Education, Psychology, Sociology Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 74%Transfer Out Rate: 24%4-Year Graduation Rate: 25%6-Year Graduation Rate: 50% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Men's Sports: Wrestling, Football, Basketball, Cross Country, Baseball, Track and FieldWomen's Sports: Softball, Swimming, Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Northern State University, You May Also Like These Schools: Black Hills State University: Profile Augustana College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDickinson State University: Profile Bemidji State University: Profile Iowa State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWayne State College: Profile University of Jamestown: Profile Presentation College: Profile South Dakota State University: Profile University of South Dakota: Profile Chadron State College: Profile University of North Dakota: Profile Continue Reading